Granada introduces access restrictions to reduce air pollution

Granada is, after Madrid and Barcelona, one of the three most polluted cities in Spain. In addition, by 2023, all municipalities in the country with more than 50,000 inhabitants need to comply with specific air quality standards in accordance with European air quality regulations, the national Royal Decree to Reduce National Emissions, the National Plan to Control Air Pollution and the Draft Bill of Climate Change and Energy Transition.

In this context, the City Council of Granada, within the framework of its Strategic Plan for Sustainable Urban Mobility will phase in the implementation of a Low Emission Zone. The proposed access restrictions will be phased in starting from January 2021 together with accompanying measures that help to prioritise public transport and walking.

From 2021, every vehicle entering the city centre, and the neighbouring districts of Albaicín or Realejo, will not be able to park on the surface, as this possibility will be reserved for residents, as well as drivers of low emission and electric vehicles, vehicles that are loading and unloading, bicycles, motorbikes and taxis. Paid on-street parking will be eliminated inside the identified zones and guaranteed at the borders of the zones. This will mean that there will be around 2,900 free car parking spaces only for residents.

The remaining vehicles that enter the regulated areas will only be able to park in underground car parks or in garages. The purpose is not to harm commercial activities, to promote the high rotation of parking spaces and to decrease pollution and congestion. The restrictions will become stricter over the years, as from 2022 residents will not be able to park within the regulated districts if they have polluting cars.

In order to distinguish residents' and zero-emission cars from those of non-residents' and polluting cars, the former will need to display stickers that will be supplied by City Hall. In addition, the regulated areas will be divided into four zones so that residents can only park inside the area in which they live. Cameras with license plate readers will be introduced in the 30 individual entrances to these areas in order to improve access control.

Original article published by granadahoy.com on 2 August 2020.