#Learning English | Paris one-way traffic trouble Last updated at 17:12 BST, Wednesday, 02 September 2009 Paris one-way traffic trouble Summary 2 September 2009 A dispute between two mayors in Paris has brought traffic chaos to the city. Confused motorists didn't know which way to turn when they saw two different one-way system signs. Reporter: Alasdair Sandford no-entry sign No entry Listen Click to hear the report: * listen Report Commuters had a nasty surprise on Monday when they found one of the main routes into the French capital was blocked. Drivers heading the other way were confronted with "no entry" signs in all directions. For two days there was chaos among bemused drivers at the point where the two rival systems converged, with all traffic forced down one side road. Vox pops: "It's a real mess now for a lot of people who are forced to go by car to their work and go back to their home by car." "It's difficult to go to work. We lost between 15 or 20 minutes, per day." The confusion followed a decision by the mayor of Levallois Patrick Balkany, from France's ruling right-wing party. He wanted to introduce a one-way system to free up traffic through his borough. Fearing an overspill into his district, the mayor of Clichy Gilles Catoire, a socialist, brought in a one-way system running the other way. The local prefect, representing the French state, has issued a decree ordering the immediate return of two-way traffic in Clichy, accusing its mayor of provoking serious disorder. Mr Catoire is refusing to back down, saying he'll challenge the decision in court. Alasdair Sandford, BBC News, Paris Listen Click to hear the words: * listen Vocabulary commuters people who travel from their homes to work (usually in a city) every working day was blocked here, traffic wasn't able to move heading the other way driving in the opposite direction chaos among bemused drivers disorder among the drivers who were confused rival systems converged different and competing ways of doing things (here, ways of controlling and moving traffic) came together forced down one side road had to go down a small road (one that's usually not suitable for a lot of traffic) overspill here, the extra traffic, caused by the first one-way system, from Levallois, coming into Clichy issued a decree sent out an official ruling provoking serious disorder here, making drivers confused and causing serious traffic problems back down admit that he is wrong Downloads To take away: * Report (993 K) * Words (1.3 MB) * Text (38 K) Related BBC links * Paris mayoral feud blocks street BBC News Latest reports * New guidelines for fighting HIV 30 November 2009 * Dubai dream turns sour 27 November 2009 * 'Trousers woman' defies travel ban 25 November 2009 * Oprah's show to end 23 November 2009 * India to import rice grains 20 November 2009 Local Navigation * Home * General & Business English * Grammar, Vocabulary & Pronunciation + Words in the News + The Teacher + News English Extra + News about Britain + Pronunciation tips + Ask about English + How to… + Keep your English up to date + Face Up to Phrasals + Grammar Challenge + Funky Phrasals * Quizzes * The Flatmates * Community * For teachers * Specials * About us * Downloads 1. Home 2. > Grammar, Vocabulary & Pronunciation 3. > Words in the News 4. > Paris one-way traffic trouble Skip to main content Access keys help A-Z index BBC logo * Home * News * Sport * Radio * TV * Weather * Languages ____________________ go BBC Learning English Syndication Links * Contact us * Podcasts * Downloads * Widget Useful links * ^^ Back to Top * BBC Copyright * Feeds + What is RSS? + Feed * Help & FAQ * Privacy & Cookie Policy * Site Map