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When the Summer Olympics rolls around this summer, Paris will seem very different from ten years ago. Mayor Anne Hidalgo has led a substantial makeover in Paris which has cut air pollution by 40%. Over 100 streets have been closed to cars, parking costs for SUVs have been tripled, nearly 50,000 parking spaces have been deleted, and more than 1,300 kilometers (800 miles) of bike lanes have been built. Many of these modifications have been inspired by the concept of the “15-minute city,” in which critical services are accessible via a short walk or bike ride. Paris’ metamorphosis paints a compelling picture of a future less reliant on automobiles and more focused on sustainable urban living.
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