Lyon’s Tunnel de la Croix-Rousse: A Long-Standing Battle for Clean Air
The issue of air pollution around the Tunnel de la Croix-Rousse in Lyon, France, has been a persistent concern for environmental organizations and parents of students attending schools at either end of the tunnel. Children at these schools face air pollution levels that exceed health guidelines. One such example is the Michel-Servet school, where students have been forced to hold their recesses in a gymnasium due to the high pollution levels in their regular playground.
In late 2024, seven organizations, including Action Justice Climat, Greenpeace Lyon, and the parents’ association of the Michel-Servet school, requested a meeting with Bruno Bernard, president of the Lyon Metropolitan Area, which is responsible for road infrastructure. They aimed to highlight the "unacceptable pollution around the Tunnel de la Croix-Rousse" and the its health risks for residents and children.
After a two-month wait, the activists were finally received on February 11th by the president’s office and a representative of the services. However, the meeting left them disappointed. Luc Arbib, a member of the Air des Lyonnais and Greenpeace associations, expressed his frustration, stating that the authorities’ response was to focus on long-term and medium-term actions. "But given the pollution levels, we need immediate results," he emphasized.
The activists proposed several ideas to address the issue, such as eliminating the diesel bus that operates in the tunnel, which they ironically referred to as a "soft mode," and converting the tunnel to two lanes in one direction instead of four. However, these suggestions were rejected because of the upcoming elections.
Bernard’s office claimed to have presented pollution monitoring results to the delegation, indicating a gradual decrease in pollution around the tunnel. While acknowledging the dissatisfaction of the activists, the office also emphasized a decline in traffic volume in recent years. Arbib, however, disputed the extent of this reduction, estimating it at a mere 3% between 2023 and 2024.
Furthermore, Arbib expressed concerns about possible traffic diversions with the impending implementation of a Low Traffic Zone (ZTL) on the Presqu’île de Lyon in June 2025.
The activists believe that the dialogue with the Grand Lyon authority has reached a stalemate. While a meeting is scheduled between the organizations and the city of Lyon to discuss the specific case of the Michel-Servet school, Arbib expressed skepticism about its potential to resolve the broader issue of traffic pollution.
The victory of the Green Party in the 2020 municipal and metropolitan elections in Lyon had raised hopes among environmental activists, as many of the newly elected officials had roots in their ranks. While acknowledging some progress, environmental organizations remain dissatisfied with the lack of action regarding the Tunnel de la Croix-Rousse.
"It’s a paradox," said Arbib. "When we meet with Grégory Doucet, he tells us he finds our approach to reducing car traffic interesting. But we feel like they’re using us. We do their PR for them, but we get nothing in return."
In politics, it can often be more challenging to change the minds of allies than adversaries.
