Technology
RATP Expands Canal Water Access and Bike Paths in Paris
Redevelopment efforts tied to RATP Group's Smarter City programme are expanding access to filtered canal water and new bike paths in the 10th and 11th arrondissements.
How we reported this
A public swimming area opened July 5 in the Bassin des Récollets section of Canal Saint-Martin and will operate through September 6, 2026, with lifeguard-protected pools supplied by filtered canal water.
The €15 million redevelopment project, which includes 3.4 km of new bicycle facilities and 147 bicycle bays, forms part of the same smart city push. Residents now reach the Bassin des Récollets pools on foot or by bike along routes that did not exist before the work began.
Water reuse and green space expand routine options
RATP Group's Smarter City programme targets reuse of mine water that previously flowed unused into the canal. That shift supports the new swimming area and reduces pressure on other urban supplies. At the same time, the Villemin-Mahsa Jîna Amini garden has been opened to the water, adding direct waterfront access within a short walk of the 10th arrondissement.
The 2019 installation of a 40 m² floating vegetated island, funded through the city's participatory budget, already functions as a pilot for biodiversity measures now scaled across the canal. Ten biodiversity refuges, 52 trees and 3,205 m² of new vegetation will be in place by the end of the current project.
Bike network and nearby venues change commuting and meetup habits
The addition of 10,400 m² of pedestrian space and the bicycle facilities connect directly to venues such as Leboncoin Tech at 85 rue du Faubourg Saint Martin, where tech meetups occur regularly. La Gaîté Lyrique, a 10-minute walk from the canal, hosts digital art exhibitions and conferences that draw participants who can now travel the new paths without mixing with heavier vehicle traffic.
More than 50 job listings in the Canal Saint-Martin area currently list tech, services and accommodation roles, many tied to the same streets that feed into the upgraded network. Le Loft coworking space on the canal banks offers workstations for digital professionals who use the new facilities to reach clients or events.
Residents can check the Paris city website for updated pool hours and bike-bay availability as the summer season continues. The RATP programme pages list ongoing water-reuse milestones for those tracking resource changes in the neighbourhood.