"We decided to close the city centre for traffic”, explains Fabio Cartolano the drastic measures to liberate the city of Bologna from unbearable traffic jams. The move was well planned and included several innovative support actions. For example, at the entry points of the city centre an automatic camera system was set up to scan all license plates - only registered vehicles, taxis and buses are authorized to enter the inner zone. At the same time the city offers a bike and car sharing system and various electric or methane-fuelled public transportation lines to bring more vitality and mobility to the city centre.
The overall goal is to convince people to switch from private vehicles to public vehicles – and it is working: With 25% fewer cars in the centre, the people of Bologna are already enjoying a calmer, less polluted urban space. Bologna is one of five European cities joining the CIVITAS initiative for cleaner and better transport in cities, which was co-financed by the European Commission.
(20 December 2010)
Corinna Luecke