Bilbao has just defined the parameters on which its future Low Emission Zone (ZBE) will be formed, in compliance with European guidelines, and the City Council has confirmed a disturbing reality for thousands of citizens: nearly half of the vehicles that circulate through the city will not be able to do so based on the agreed criteria. The new ZBE will basically limit entry into the city center to environmental category A and B vehicles, and will do so from next year. The new ordinance, however, includes some reservations and a gradual implementation.
The Climate Change and Energy Transition Law, in accordance with the guidelines of the European Union, obliges municipalities with more than 50,000 inhabitants to establish a Low Emissions Zone with the aim of improving air quality and, consequently, public health. , and reduce CO2 emissions.
Thus, in order to adapt to this regulation, the Bilbao City Council has had to approve a new ordinance to establish the ZBE, “a delimited area, where access and circulation restrictions will be applied to polluting and heavily polluting vehicles, in function of its environmental distinctiveness.”
The Bilbao City Council has chosen for the Low Emissions Zone to cover the entire city center; specifically, the districts of Indautxu and Abando, including all of Abandoibarra and Ensanche.
The ZBE of the Biscayan capital covers a large space delimited by Autonomía, Sabino Arana streets and the entire stretch of the estuary between the Euskalduna Palace and the Arriaga bridge and, already in the San Francisco area, Bailen street and the same San Francisco street to Zabalburu.
Bilbao City Council points out that to delimit the ZBE it carried out “an exhaustive study of the fleet of vehicles in circulation during the last year, which included carrying out more than 100,000 measurements at thirteen different control points.” Likewise, an analysis of the city's air quality was carried out to parameterize the starting point and the objectives to be met.
The ZBE regulates the entry of vehicles into the center based on environmental labels. Vehicles with label A, considered highly polluting, are those with gasoline engines registered before 2000 and those with diesel engines registered before 2006.
The vehicles that fall within category B, polluting, are gasoline passenger cars and light vans registered from January 2000 to 2006, and diesel vehicles registered between 2006 and 2014.
Finally, low-polluting category C vehicles are those with gasoline engines registered from 2006 (Euro 4, Euro 5 or Euro 6 regulations), and diesel vehicles registered from 2014 (under Euro 6 emissions regulations). ).
Any driver can consult the environmental category of their vehicle on the website of the General Directorate of Traffic: https://sede.dgt.gob.es/es/vehiculos/distintivo-ambiental/
The ordinance that the Bilbao City Council will approve next year allows free access to the ZBE, as well as parking there, for vehicles that are considered low polluting. That is, only type C vehicles, as well as 0-emission and ECO vehicles, will be able to access the city center without any restrictions.
The ban on driving and parking in the city center will not be absolute, but is limited to a certain time. Polluting and heavily polluting vehicles will not be able to circulate in the city center on weekdays, Monday to Friday, from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
The regulations linked to the Bilbao Low Emissions Zone will begin to be applied next year; However, the implementation will be gradual and contemplates exceptions. “It will be implemented progressively until the end of 2029 so that the population can adapt to it,” the City Council indicates.
The vehicles of residents who are registered in the area of the ZBE and who are registered in the Mechanical Traction Vehicle Tax register of the Bilbao City Council prior to the entry into force of this ordinance, will not be affected by this regulation.
Likewise, vehicles used for commerce or linked to associations that carry out their activity in the city center may also circulate in the city center, regardless of their vehicle.
“Access and circulation restrictions will be gradually activated from the entry into force of the ordinance until the end of 2029 depending on the polluting potential of the vehicles. As of January 1, 2030, only vehicles considered low polluting will be able to access, circulate and park in the Bilbao ZBE,” the Bilbao City Council warns.
