Photo: Madrid City Hall
Things are getting serious in Spain’s capital Madrid as the local Mayor announced that no non-resident will be allowed in the center of the city as of the first day of 2015, elpais reports. According to the newspaper, Mayor Ana Botella is charging against pollution and traffic congestion in the central area of Madrid and is thus expanding the existing exclusion zones to over 350 hectares.
Starting with the first day of January, 2015 the cars which belong to other than the residents in the area will only have access to the main roads. The rest of the streets will be open to the residents’ cars. At the same time, 22 cameras will be used to verify whether the cars in the area have valid parking spots. Trespassers with no parking spot and who park for other than reasonable justifications (full parking lots) will be fined with around €90 ($).
These restrictions do not apply to motorcycles, which are free to roam the center of Madrid. Still the exemption is only valid between 7am and 10 pm. Even so, it is heartening to see that the Mayor understands the whole picture, and the fact that bikes are a solution in the urban clutter, and not a problem. Supply vans and trucks are allowed in the restricted area between 10am and 1pm.
Pollution levels have grown during the last years as a result of the economic crisis. The lack of money has prevented more and more Spaniards from changing their old cars for new (newer) cars. Madrid is home to around 1.7 million vehicles, of which around 80% are passenger cars. The recession has technically almost doubled the average age of the existing cars, from 5.7 years to 9.3, as of 2013. No mention about taxis and electric vehicles has been made, but it's probably safe to assume that the latter are outside the target of this ban. Tipped by motorbiker.
These restrictions do not apply to motorcycles, which are free to roam the center of Madrid. Still the exemption is only valid between 7am and 10 pm. Even so, it is heartening to see that the Mayor understands the whole picture, and the fact that bikes are a solution in the urban clutter, and not a problem. Supply vans and trucks are allowed in the restricted area between 10am and 1pm.
Reducing pollution in Madrid
Central Madrid residents have welcomed the initiative, the newspaper reports, especially as the Mayor said she has also laid out plans to supplement bus lanes and pedestrian walkways in the future. While ensuring that the residents have their parking spots secured, and the pollution in the area is lowered. These measures are part of the actual policies aimed at positive discrimination in favor of public transport, bicycles and pedestrians.Pollution levels have grown during the last years as a result of the economic crisis. The lack of money has prevented more and more Spaniards from changing their old cars for new (newer) cars. Madrid is home to around 1.7 million vehicles, of which around 80% are passenger cars. The recession has technically almost doubled the average age of the existing cars, from 5.7 years to 9.3, as of 2013. No mention about taxis and electric vehicles has been made, but it's probably safe to assume that the latter are outside the target of this ban. Tipped by motorbiker.
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