The center of Bilbao will be included in the ZBE because it is “the area that attracts the most traffic” on a daily basis.

2023-10-26 00:35:51

The center of Bilbao will be included in the Low Emissions Zone (ZBE), as it is “the area that attracts the most traffic” on a daily basis, and only vehicles considered low polluting, half of those that travel now, and others will be able to circulate freely through it. such as bicycles or personal mobility vehicles. Green light for the draft ordinance that will regulate the future ZBE, in compliance with the EU guidelines, which requires cities with more than 50,000 inhabitants. The Governing Board of Bilbao City Council has given the green light to the draft ordinance that will regulate the future ZBE, in compliance with the EU guidelines, which require cities with more than 50,000 inhabitants “measures to reduce emissions derived from mobility, including the implementation of specific areas in the city in which they seek to reduce traffic most polluting vehicle”. Road traffic, the main source of pollution in Bilbao According to the City Council, road traffic is the “main source of pollution in Bilbao”, since it affects “both the quality of the air and the acoustic well-being of its inhabitants.” “Every year, air pollution is responsible for nearly 10,000 deaths in Spain, even exceeding deaths from traffic accidents,” he added. “Every year, air pollution is responsible for nearly 10,000 deaths in Spain, even exceeding deaths from traffic accidents.” For this reason, it has recognized not only “the prevailing need to take measures”, but has begun the procedures “to the definition and regulation of its ZBE through an ordinance, aligned with Law 7/2021 on Climate Change and Energy Transition”. The ordinance, which has 23 articles, establishes “clear rules” for the implementation of the ZBE to “improve public health and air quality, inform citizens of their duties and rights, and comply with legal obligations.” From now on, the period for the presentation of amendments by political parties will open, and after the initial approval plenary session has been held, a new period of public exhibition will begin with its subsequent period of allegations. With the final approval of the ZBE ordinance in full, the administrative procedure will end. The design of this ordinance has been developed “taking into account both future air quality needs and the current situation in Bilbao.” To prepare it, “an exhaustive study” of the fleet of vehicles in circulation during the last year was carried out, “which included more than 100,000 measurements at thirteen different control points” and was complemented “with an analysis of the quality of the city’s air to parameterize the starting point and the objectives to be met”. In addition, data was collected on people’s mobility habits, with the aim of “obtaining a complete view of the perspectives, needs, disposition and understanding about this measure.” 3% of highly polluting vehicles The results of the studies show that, currently, about 50% of the vehicles circulating in the city have category A or B, and there is another 3% of vehicles traveling through the city “about which should also be acted upon as they are considered highly polluting. Along these same lines, the results of the study underline the “high importance” that citizens give to the adoption of measures to reduce pollution from road traffic, to which they give a rating of 8.2 out of 10. This is directly related with “a generalized will” to change mobility habits towards more sustainable transport options “to guarantee the fight against climate change”, valued with a 6.9 out of 10. These results are, according to the City Council, “fundamental to act , regulate and design measures aimed at improving air quality and protecting public health in our municipality. More traffic For this reason, and to define which would be the optimal area in which to implement the Low Emissions Zone, air quality and traffic data “which are very different between different parts of the city” have been taken into account and It has been concluded that the area that attracts the most daily traffic to Bilbao, the center, “is the one that is included” in the ZBE. The Bilbao ZBE will be “a delimited area”, in which access and circulation restrictions will be applied to vehicles “according to their polluting potential.” This area has been selected because 80% of NO2 and 35% of PM come from traffic. In addition, it is the one with the “highest population density” and with a high percentage of vulnerable population. The ordinance classifies vehicles according to their polluting potential in categories based on their environmental distinctiveness, so that it identifies the low polluter with a 0 emissions, ECO and C vehicle; while the polluting vehicle is a vehicle B and the major polluter is vehicle A. The environmental category of the vehicle can be consulted on the website of the General Directorate of Traffic. Vehicles that are considered low pollutants, as well as bicycles, pedal-assisted bicycles, other cycles and personal mobility vehicles, will be able to freely access and circulate through the Low Emission Zone, as well as park there. According to the draft ordinance, Vehicles that are considered low pollutants, as well as bicycles, pedal-assisted bicycles, other cycles and personal mobility vehicles, will be able to freely access and circulate through the Low Emissions Zone, as well as park therein. Polluting and heavily polluting vehicles will have restricted access, circulation and parking in the ZBE at a certain time. The regulation will be applicable on weekdays, Monday to Friday, from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Exemptions have been provided for certain vehicles and situations, such as those of people residing within the ZBE, emergency and essential services vehicles, historic vehicles and vehicles that transport people with reduced mobility, among others. Given these restrictions, exemptions have been provided for certain vehicles and situations, such as those of people residing within the ZBE, emergency and essential services vehicles, historic vehicles and vehicles that transport people with reduced mobility, among others. The ordinance includes these exemptions in addition to the transitional periods for the rest of the groups. Residents The vehicles of resident persons who are registered in the territorial scope of the ZBE and who are registered in the Mechanical Traction Vehicle Tax register of the Bilbao City Council prior to the entry into force of this ordinance, will not be seen affected by this regulation. In this way, they are exempt from the application of the Low Emissions Zone regardless of the type of vehicle they own. Every big change requires an adaptation time. The Goobierno team has admitted that “every big change requires an adaptation time”, which is why it will enable a transitional period to allow residents, not registered with an OTA card, to use vehicles destined for businesses. , hotels and the rest of the associative fabric that carries out its activity in the city center, “adapt to the new regulations of the ZBE.” Access and circulation restrictions will be gradually activated from the entry into force of the ordinance until the end of 2029 depending on the polluting potential of the vehicles. As of January 1, 2030, only vehicles considered low polluting will be able to access, circulate and park in the Bilbao ZBE. For the deputy mayor and councilor for Mobility and Sustainability, Nora Abete, this ordinance “turns the norm into an opportunity to guarantee the improvement of air quality and promote more sustainable mobility in the town”, since it makes the ZBE Bilbao “a crucial step towards a more sustainable and healthy future for the entire municipality.” In her opinion, this project “would not make sense without the collaboration of all citizens, as well as other administrations, political parties, companies and all the actors involved in urban mobility.” “We must be united and convinced that the implementation of the Low Emissions Zone is necessary to improve the city’s air quality and, with it, our quality of life,” she defended. For this reason, the City Council will soon launch a communication campaign “to raise awareness about this challenge we face and provide timely information on all the aspects included in the ordinance.” “It’s about convincing, not imposing,” said Abete.
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