Maine banks scheme: in Lyon, no car means no scarface

In order to achieve its project of reconquest of Maine banks, Angers town hall looked for some inspiration in similar urban schemes. One of them is visible in Lyon. The Rhône river runs through the capital of Rhône-Alpes province which has been built, like many other french towns, along a river formerly a way of economic exchanges.

The place is now covered by ribbons of grass instead of car parks. Trees, benches and waterfalls are placed along a path where only bicycles and pedestrians are allowed to get around. But, as an unexpected consequence, boats are docked again. Old barges have been transformed in places for fun (bars, restaurants, nightclubs), so there is liveliness brought by the river to the city, as if the first was saying to the town : I refund you the fun you were looking for.

Of course, for this annual Music Day, the wharfs were invaded by people and not available for a lonesome and dreamy walk (Even if you could listen to the stream of the river). That may be the interest of such a scheme : to bring up to life the heart of a city.