One of the biggest concerns for every major city in the world is reducing traffic congestion and pollution – not an easy task.
Barcelona, however, is well on its way to reducing that pesky carbon footprint. The city has just released its new mobility plan, which aims to reduce traffic by 21 per cent, reclaim roughly 60 per cent of streets for its residents, introduce more green spaces, and promote outdoor activities throughout the city.
Barcelona’s streets are known for catering to vehicles rather than pedestrians, and despite the European Union’s directive stating that member nations need to produce at least 31 per cent of their energy from renewable sources, Barcelona, along with 35 municipalities in its surrounding area, have not been able to meet the requirements.
Currently, Barcelona’s air pollution leads to 3,500 premature deaths per year and 61 per cent of the population faces unhealthy levels of noise pollution, which explains the new plan’s urgency.
The city wants to start the mobility project in Eixample, a neighbourhood with an especially dense grid layout. The city will cordon off “superblocks” where motorized traffic will be prohibited, as well as create “citizen spaces” for pedestrian roaming.
To further reduce traffic, the city is also planning 186 miles of new bike lanes and a revamped bus network.
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