The biggest obstacle course race in Paris it was not part of the Paralympic Games program – instead it is a daily challenge faced by thousands of residents of the French capital.

The accessibility of the Paris Metro, with its endless staircases that reach into the bowels of the earth, is still limited, which makes life very difficult for both passengers carrying heavy luggage and of course PWDs (Persons with Disabilities). In the context of the Paralympic Games, there was one – yet another – initiative to upgrade the accessibility of the metro, with a plan that has been in the works for years and the cost of which amounts to billions of euros.

“The first time I came to Paris I was shocked,” says Mr Benjamin Rennera volunteer at the Paralympic Games. Renner is semi-plegic – so his first visit to the French capital’s metro was a real challenge: there were hardly any lifts, and the escalators moved so fast that he could hardly use them.

“I knew how the situation is in Berlin and I expected it to be the same in Paris, if not better.” For his movements in the city, Renner finally decided to move mainly by bus and tram. “So I am forced to walk more,” adds the young man from Dresden. “This is all very restrictive.”

Metro accessibility costs billions

The president of the administrative region of the capital Ile-de-France, Valerie Pécres, finally wants to upgrade the accessibility of the metro. To this end, he presented a few days ago a plan for the “metro for all”. The cost is estimated at 15 to 20 billion euros and both the city and the region as well as the French state will contribute to its coverage.

Installing lifts throughout the underground metro network is also a real challenge from a technical point of view, since all its lengths and widths have all kinds of piping, such as natural gas pipes, but also canals or even underground garages . That is why it is no coincidence that until now the French capital has focused on upgrading the accessibility of the bus and suburban network.

The French Association of Persons with Disabilities (APF) welcomes the initiative, stating that there is now “real political will and a willingness to tackle the problem, […] a fact that fills us with hope”.

The Union also called on the parties involved to enter into an agreement regarding the implementation of the project, in order to ensure that it does not fall apart due to the dispute over the coverage of the costs. “The intention is of course laudable – but the plan should not be limited to announcements,” Nicolas Merig, APF’s accessibility manager, told Le Parisien.

The phased implementation of the project is under consideration

“It’s a matter of organization,” says volunteer Renner. “It’s best to just start the project.” A useful first step could be to expand the bus network so that all areas of the city are more easily accessible. Afterwards, the upgrading of the metro stations could also start step by step.

The German athletes attending the Paralympic Games in France were meanwhile forced to make do with the existing situation in the metro. “Of course I take into account that the structures of Paris are often antiquated, with the result that there is not accessibility everywhere,” says shot putter Nico Capel. “But I don’t want to mess with the city […] nor do I like to say ‘here and there there are stairs everywhere'”, adds the athlete. “Yes, there are challenges. But as a team we have managed to manage the situation perfectly. And whenever we see a fellow athlete who cannot go any further or stuck on some very steep ramp, we help him.”

Athletes praise the city’s efforts

For his part, the swimmer Maurice Wettekam praises the efforts made by Paris for the Paralympic Games with the aim of facilitating the life and movement of the athletes: “What has made a very positive impression on me is that at the opening ceremony all the cobbled areas were paved with asphalt , to make it easier for those in wheelchairs. And I think this is a very good move”.

However, it is still not certain that in a few years Paris will actually be able to significantly upgrade the accessibility of the metro. “Even a partial upgrade in some of the stations will be disproportionately expensive, the work will take seven to ten years per line, while the daily movement of citizens will also be significantly affected,” says a recent analysis by the Paris Transport Authority IDFM.

Edited by: Giorgos Passas