The European cities leading the way in car-free living in a bid to tackle toxic air pollution

A look at European cities, as London pollution expert calls for capital to be rid of cars
Air pollution: The findings come as four cross-party parliamentary committees reopened a joint inquiry into the problem
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Chloe Chaplain16 October 2017

The Mayor of London has come under increased pressure in recent weeks to bolster his plans to slash pollution after data revealed all Londoners are exposed to dangerous levels of toxic air.

Sadiq Khan has outlined plans to introduce an Ultra-Low Emissions Zone in parts of the city, which will impose an additional charge on the most polluting vehicles.

But green campaigners have said the Mayor needs to do more to take control of the dangerous emissions levels.

Environmental health expert, Professor Frank Kelly, said that only a complete car ban will be sufficient to tackle the ongoing air quality crisis.

Toxic: Pollution in London
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Prof Kelly, of Kings College London, said that even electric cars should be banned from the busiest parts of the city.

“Even if we replaced every petrol or diesel car with an electric one there would still be particulate matter produced by the brakes (if not fully regenerative), tyres and road wear,” he told the Standard.

“I think a car ban could work in various areas of the city. For example Oxford Street is a prime case for pedestrianisation. So is Parliament Square, Trafalgar Square, Bank….,” he added.

Mayor: Sadiq Khan
PA Wire

“We could have network of such areas joined by a streets that would allow you to walk or cycle between each zone.”

Prof Kelly said that, if a total car ban is not possible, enforcing a ban on all diesel vehicles would have significant impact. “But it would be very unpopular unless backed by a generous scrappage scheme,” he said.

As authorities scramble to come up with a solution to the pollution issue, is the idea of a total car ban an unrealistic proposal?

Capital: Pollution seen hanging over the city of London  (Evening Standard / eyevine)
Jeremy Selwyn

Professor Kelly believes society is moving towards a lifestyle in which car ownership is less of an “asset” and where transport is becoming more of a crucial public service.

“This involves booking joined up (clean) journeys from our smart phone and paid from our smart phone. This will involve trains, the underground, buses, autonomous vehicles and electric bikes.”

Cities around Europe have taken great strides forward in evolving transport and are leading the way in car-free living, by introducing complete bans in parts of the city.

Copenhagen:

Large areas of the Danish capital have been closed off to cars for years, with the authorities prioritising cycling infrastructure.

As a result, last year it was recorded that there are more bikes in the centre of the city than cars – cementing it’s title as the “bike city”.

Car-free: Authorities in Copenhagen have been prioritising cycling infrastructure
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But officials are ploughing ahead with plans to make it carbon neutral by 2050 and, as part of his campaign for the upcoming elections, Mayor Frank Jensen has proposed a ban on new diesel cars from 2019 – in addition to the swathes of cycle highways being constructed.

The proposed ban has faced criticism from some green campaigners, however, who said it will not do enough to tackle pollution as anyone who previously owned a diesel vehicle will still be able to drive it.

London Pollution - In pictures

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Included in Mr Jenson’s plans are proposals to limit the use of wood-burning stoves, new laws requiring cruise ships docked at the city's ports to operate on electricity, introducing more electrified buses.

Madrid:

Madrid’s Mayor confirmed in November that the main avenue in the city, Gran Via, will be out of bounds to private cars.

Manuela Carmena said the six-lane road will only be open to bikes, buses and taxis by the time she leaves office in 2019.

Madrid council is taking measure to reduce air pollution
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She said her intention was to pedestrianise the road, which cuts through the city centre, as part of a wider plan to ban all diesel cars from Madrid in 2025.

The city has already been forced to introduce temporary driving bans in parts of the city when pollution, which has exceeded EU regulations for eight years in a row, reached harmful levels.

Oslo:

In 2015 the Norwegian capital pledged to ban all cars by 2019 in a bid to reduce emissions and congestion in the fast-growing city.

The plan initially involved banning all cars from the city centre – a 1.7km sq area home to around 1,000 people. It would make it the first major European city to have a permanent no-car zone.

Oslo: Officials have outlined plans to reduce the number of cars in the city

But authorities later adapted the proposals to create a phased approach that would see the “fewest possible” cars in the city, after concerns a total ban would negatively affect businesses.

The transition began by removing multiple parking spaces around the area – both on-street parking and car parks. These will be transformed into public spaces to discourage people from bringing car into the centre of the city.

The second stage, scheduled for 2018, will see the pedestrian and cycle network extended as well as rules closing some streets to private vehicles.

Oslo Council are then planning to evaluate the impact of the rules and reconsider if a total car ban is needed.

“We’ll see if the removal of parking and the restrictions on driving through the city centre will be enough,” said Lan Marie Nguyen Berg, vice mayor for environment and transport.

“If it’s necessary to get to our goal, then we’ll create a car ban. But, until 2019, we’ll see if we can do it through more gentle and natural initiatives.”

Hamburg:

Hamburg authorities have outlines plans to make walking and cycling the leading mode of transport in Germany’s second largest city.

The "green network” project included plans to introduce areas of the city that only permit pedestrians and cyclists

By 2035, the network will cover 40 per cent of the city including parks, playgrounds, sports fields, and cemeteries.

Green: Hamburg, Germany
Alamy Stock Photo

Around 30 city planners are currently working on the plans for the network, which is set to span 7,000 acres.

“Cities like London have a green belt, but the Green Network will be unique in covering an area from the outskirts to the city centre,” Hamburg city spokeswoman Angelika Fritsch told the ZME Science urban planning network .

Cycling in London

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“In 15 to 20 years it will be possible to explore the city exclusively by bike or on foot.

“We envision a network that doesn’t just help residents to get from point A to B in a sustainable fashion. It will offer people opportunities to hike, swim, do water sports, enjoy picnics, restaurants, experience calms and watch nature right in the city."

Paris:

In 2014 the French capital banned half of its cars for day when pollution reached dangerously high levels.

The drastic measure saw pollution immediately drop by 30 per cent and now the city has outlined plans to ban all non-electric cars by 2030.

A traffic sign informs French motorists of measures to tackle pollution
AFP/Getty Images

The Mayor had previously announced plans to ban diesel cars from the city by 2024 and, on Thursday, she proposed an extension to the ban to include petrol-fuelled cars.

If Mayor Anne Hidalgo’s proposals are approved, only electric-powered cars will be allowed in the city by 2030.

There are already restrictions for drivers, with those using cars made before 1997 not permitted to drive in the city centre on weekdays.

"This is about planning for the long term with a strategy that will reduce greenhouse gases," said Christophe Najdovski, a deputy city mayor responsible for transport policy.

"Transport is one of the main greenhouse gas producers...so we are planning an exit from combustion engine vehicles, or fossil-energy vehicles, by 2030," he told France Info radio.

Athens:

In 2016 officials in the Greek city announced a crack-down on diesel cars in the city centre – due to be enforced in 2025.

In an attempt to improve air quality in the city, diesel vehicles are already banned on certain days based on their number plate.

Athens: Two women cover their faces from fumes
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But Athens Mayor Giorgos Kaminis said his end goal is to eventually remove all cars from the area.

“Our goal is to ultimately remove all cars from the centre of Athens in the years to come,” he said.

“I support the bold ambition of the [Greek] Air Quality Declaration and call on our partners in the national government to implement their commitments based on the international climate action agreements and to join our common effort to clean the air that we breathe."

Brussels:

Brussels already has the second largest car-free zone in Europe (after Copenhagen) – with the majority of streets around the city centre, shopping district and stock exchange being pedestrian-only.

People ride bicycles in the streets of Brussels during the car free Sunday
AFP/Getty Images

And in 2002 it launched is annual “mobility week” in a bit to encourage people to turn to other methods of travel. The week culminates with “car-free Sunday” when all cars are banned from the city.

But it is not stopping there. Brussels transport bosses have also announced plans to ban all old diesel cars (more than 20 years old) from 2018.

In 2019, the ban will extend to cover petrol cars from before 1997 and diesel cars pre-2001. And the restrictions will continue to expand until 2025, when diesels pre-2015 and petrol cars pre-2001 will not be permitted on the roads.

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