Berlin Drivers Don't Balk At Emission Badges
by April Streeter, Gothenburg, Sweden on 01. 3.08
In Berlin's 'green' zone, eventually only cars with a green badge will be able to pass go
Since the start of the year, drivers to the inner city of Berlin - the 88-square kilometer area inside the subway 'ring' - must display badges to show their cars meet new rules for particulate and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) emissions. Cars without badges are subject to the not-too hefty ticket price of 40 Euros (US$58) and a penalty point on the errant driver's license. Police say they will go easy on delinquents in the first couple of months. Altogether about 1.7 million older diesel cars and gas cars without catalytic converters will be too polluting to meet the new emission requirements and are thus banned from the heart of Berlin as well as Cologne and Hanover. Stuttgart, Frankfurt and Munich as well as 14 other cities will all deploy the system later this year.
In 2010 the emissions law will be further tightened, and only 'green badge' cars will be able to go into the inner city zones. Perhaps the measure will put even more Berliners on their bikes and help the city reach its goal of 15 percent of city traffic made up on cyclists. Via ::Berlin.de
Hopefully smart people will not go into Berlin and shop and buy things. This way all the businesses will go away and tree's can be planted and a forrest will grow in the place of a city.
A similar proposal is supposed to start in London soon as part of the Congestion Zone ... and some of the fines are not so small - up to £1000.
I think this is an amazing idea and would be great for all major metropolitan areas with major congention. Downtown San Francisco would be an excellent candidate, especially if this was implemented over the next few years along with the planned additions to San Francisco's public transit system. I can see where this would be tough to implement in residential areas, but in business districts, the idea is just brilliant!
I think this is an amazing idea and would be great for all major metropolitan areas with major congestion. Downtown San Francisco would be an excellent candidate, especially if this was implemented over the next few years along with the planned additions to San Francisco's public transit system. I can see where this would be tough to implement in residential areas, but in business districts, the idea is just brilliant!
The US states alreadyeach have such a system and it's called an emissions inspection sticker. Germany is just catching up in a more targeted way.
I like this better because it would allow poor people whom have hard to tune cars to keep them for rural use without putting undue burden on them.
May I also point out that EU nations were decades behind the US in the banning of DDT, PCBs, leaded gasoline, etc etc. etc. Much of what the US accomplished in the 1970s - roughly 1990 is still far ahead of much of the developed and all of the developing world. Two steps backward after the coming election will represent three steps forward!!!!
Yeah, a great idea if you don't live there. Has adequate provision been made for transport of consumables and moving house? My car will NEVER qualify for any sticker no matter how clean it is, read the small print. Otto Diesel designed the Diesel engine to run off peanut oil, we could all be running vehicles for free, off old kebab oil, with minimal environmental effects, and using off grid solar and wind power, but I'll bet planning regulations in Berlin forbid it.
A sticking plaster to cover a gaping wound for political gain.
SAD.
Yeah, a great idea if you don't live there. Has adequate provision been made for transport of consumables and moving house? My car will NEVER qualify for any sticker no matter how clean it is, read the small print. Otto Diesel designed the Diesel engine to run off peanut oil, we could all be running vehicles for free, off old kebab oil, with minimal environmental effects, and using off grid solar and wind power, but I'll bet planning regulations in Berlin forbid it.
A sticking plaster to cover a gaping wound for political gain.
SAD.