BARCELONA ’ S PLAN TO ERADICATE CARS FROM CITY STREETS
Barcelona has announced its 10-year plan to tackle the cities pollution problems and to transform its streets into green havens for its citizens .
The new € 37.8m plans are a rapid expansion of the 2016 superblock policy to reimagine Barcelona ’ s existing streets by grouping nine blocks together and closing them off to traffic by installing benches and plants . Play areas , green spaces and cycle lanes will also be created in a bid to return the city ’ s streets to its people .
Although cars will not be banned entirely , the aim is to make the city centre incompatible for traffic . In the heavily polluted Eixample district , one in three streets will become green zones . Intersections will be converted into 21 public squares to ensure that all citizens are no more than 200 metres from a small park or square .
This ambitious scheme is already underway with six blocks created so far . 11 more are planned in the next few years and as many as 500 could be installed if the scheme is completed in its entirety .
Barcelona is currently ranked the most polluted city in Spain and often exceeds EU and WHO limits of air pollution and particulates . The Catalonian capital also has the highest vehicle density in Europe , making cars a big problem . These plans aim to increase public green spaces in the crammed city centre and simultaneously reduce its extreme pollution issues .
Since lockdowns began earlier this year , Barcelona has been practising “ tactical urbanism ” – a low cost , short term and adaptable way of improving urban areas by extending cycling lanes , widening pavements and temporarily closing streets and parking spaces .
Los planes de Barcelona para erradicar los coches de las calles
Barcelona ha anunciado un plan de diez años para abordar los problemas de contaminación de la ciudad y proporcionar a los ciudadanos unas calles más ecológicas .
El proyecto , presupuestado en 37,8 millones de euros , contempla una rápida expansión del plan diseñado en 2006 para reimaginar el espacio urbano barcelonés a través del agrupamiento y cierre al tráfico rodado de nueve bloques mediante la colocación de plantas y bancos . Las calles serán dotadas también de zonas de juego , zonas verdes y carriles bici a fin de devolver el espacio urbano a los ciudadanos .
Aunque no se prohibirá la circulación de vehículos de forma absoluta , el objetivo consiste en conseguir que el tráfico resulte incompatible con el centro urbano . En la muy contaminada zona del Eixample , una de cada tres calles será transformada en zona verde y las intersecciones se convertirán en 21 plazas que garantizarán que los ciudadanos siempre se encuentren a una distancia máxima de 200 metros de la plaza o parquecito más cercanos . 14
OTWO 17 / DECEMBER 2020