Access Restrictions
Polluted inner cities can recover radically if traffic somehow is restricted. Four Trendsetter cities show that access restrictions reduce emissions, noise and energy use. Some restrictions even transform the city character dramatically.
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The most radical way to reduce traffic in cities is of course to forbid it. But a total ban of vehicles normally is not desirable – shops will need deliveries, disabled need to be able to go to the area, residents may need to drive to their homes etc. Yet, access can be more or less restrictive.
Graz, Pécs, Prague and Stockholm have created either environmental zones in order to limit certain traffic or strolling zones to make the city centre more pedestrian-friendly.
Environmental zonesSince heavy-duty vehicles cause an unproportional part of emissions and noise in inner cities, banning some of them results in better air and living quality. Both Prague and Stockholm have environmental zones that prohibit either too old or too heavy vehicles to drive in parts of the city. The police make random checks to see that the rules are followed.
During Trendsetter, the obedience level in Stockholm has increased to 96 percent due to better cooperation between the city and the police department. Also, emissions and energy use have been reduced.
Prague has widened its environmental zone significantly, which has sped up the transporters’ shift to more modern and environmentally friendly vehicles. This has decreased energy use and emissions, especially local emissions of NOx and particulate matter, but also CO2.
These zone systems in Prague and Stockholm show that environmental zones can help cities to fulfil parts of the European air quality directive.
Strolling zonesCity centres with very few cars are usually lively, with people strolling, shopping and enjoying outdoor cafes. Reducing the space for cars by establishing strolling zones can make inner-cities more pleasant and healthier. Within Trendsetter, Graz has created new strolling zones outside the city’s large pedestrian area and Pècs has introduced a car-free zone in the centre. Also, Pécs has extended its strolling area and plan for a bicycle road network in the inner city.
In Graz, mobility in the city has improved and the city centre has transformed. The new strolling zones have boosted commercial activity like bars and shops and left more space for people on the streets instead of cars.
Pécs used to have severe car traffic in the city centre, but due to Trendsetter projects, the traffic has decreased between 80 and 100 percent. Noise is down and the air quality is much better.
Congestion chargingBesides environmental zones and strolling zones, congestion charging is a powerful method to restrict and direct traffic flow. With congestion charges, only vehicles that pay a fee are allowed into a zone. The purpose is to reduce congestion and improve mobility.
Congestion charges are being tested in Stockholm from January to July 2006. Within Trendsetter, the congestion-charging scheme has been prepared and the potential of it investigated. The expected results are reduced traffic, congestion and emissions as well as decreased energy use and more people choosing public transport, biking or walking.
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