LEZ
Travelling during a pollution episode
Metropolitan registry
The environmental label
Getting around on sustainable transport 
What a pollution episode is
PollutionWHAT IS THE LEZ?
What is the Barcelona Ring Roads LEZ?
It is an area of over 95 km² where the circulation of the most polluting vehicles is restricted, with the aim of protecting the atmosphere, people's health and the environment.
It includes the entire municipality of Barcelona (except for Zona Franca -Industrial and the woodland neighbourhoods of Vallvidrera, Tibidabo i Les Planes), the municipality of Hospitalet de Llobregat, and parts of the municipalities of Cornellà de Llobregat, Esplugues de Llobregat and Sant Adrià de Besòs.
Does it include the ring roads themselves?
No. All vehicles can circulate freely on the ring roads (Ronda de Dalt and Ronda del Litoral), whether they have a DGT environmental label or not. The most polluting vehicles (i.e. those that have not qualified for a DGT environmental label) are not authorised to leave the ring roads or drive on any city streets within the LEZ.
When does it come into force?
Until 31 December 2019, the Barcelona Ring Roads LEZ will be temporarily in force if an environmental episode is declared for high levels of atmospheric pollution with traffic restrictions.
From 1 January 2020 onwards, the Barcelona Ring Roads LEZ will be in force on working days, Monday to Friday, from 7 am to 8 pm.
Why has the Barcelona Ring Roads LEZ been created?
In order to reduce environmental pollution, and to preserve and improve air quality and people's health. It is part of the range of actions aimed at reducing air-pollutant emissions by 30% in the next 15 years. The main air pollutants are nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and suspended particles (PM10). Establishing the LEZ aims to achieve a reduction in NOx and PM10 emissions of up to 31% and 39%, respectively.
How is the LEZ identified?
The Barcelona Ring Roads LEZ and its access roads are signposted with road signs that indicate its delimitation, what vehicles may circulate inside it and at what times. On access roads to the city, drivers will find messages on variable information panels that tell them they are approaching the Barcelona Ring Roads LEZ. This will give them enough time to change their routes. Informative vertical traffic signs at the entrance to the Barcelona Ring Roads LEZ are located at ring-road exits (Ronda de Dalt, Ronda del Litoral), on other city access roads and in neighbourhoods that are adjacent to the perimeter of the Barcelona Ring Roads LEZ. The ring-road message panels complement information about the restrictions.
Which vehicles are not authorised to travel inside the LEZ?
From 1 January 2020, the most polluting vehicles will not be able to travel within the Barcelona Ring Roads LEZ, i.e. any vehicles that do not have the corresponding DGT environmental label (Zero, Eco, C and B).
More specifically, the vehicles that may not travel inside the LEZ in 2020 are passenger cars (M1) and motorbikes and mopeds (L) that do not have any DGT environmental labels. This corresponds to:
- Petrol-driven passenger cars registered prior to Euro 3 and diesel passenger cars registered prior to the Euro 4 regulation.
- Motorbikes and mopeds (L), registered prior to the Euro 2 regulation.
Any vehicles that do not have any DGT environmental label are authorised to travel inside the Barcelona Ring Roads LEZ from 8:01 pm to 6:59 am, Monday to Friday on working days, and 24 hours a day at weekends and on public holidays.
Which vehicles are exempt and can circulate, even though they do not have any environmental label?
Whether they have a DGT environmental label or not, the following vehicles are exempt from the regulation and may circulate freely, until they are replaced:
- All vehicles used to transport people with reduced mobility (whether adapted or not).
- All vehicles used for emergency services (fire brigade, police forces, state security forces) and essential services (medical, funerary).
- All vehicles used to transport people with illnesses which affect their use of public transport.
What about professional vehicles that don't have an environmental label?
A moratorium will be established so that professional vehicles can circulate, even if they do not have a DGT environmental label. This is the case for vans (N1), lorries (N2 and N3) and buses (M2 and M3) that do not have an environmental label. This corresponds to:
- Heavy vehicles, lorries and small coaches (N2, N3 and M2): moratorium until 31 December 2021.
- Buses and coaches (M3): moratorium until 30 June 2022.
The moratorium on vans (N1) and vehicles used for business purposes by people on low incomes ended on 1 April 2021.
Does the restriction include taxis that don't have an environmental label?
Yes. They are also included. However, the restriction does not affect this kind of vehicle much, as these vehicles are already very clean in the city; over 30% of them are already hybrids, electric or run on gas. Vehicles running on diesel are no longer approved.
In the exercising of its responsibilities, through the Metropolitan Institute of Taxis (IMET), the AMB will continue to show its firm commitment to environmentally improving its fleet of taxis. From 2007 to 2016, the fleet of environmentally-efficient vehicles (hybrids or gas) rose from 1% to over 30%. The metropolitan commitment to clean mobility aims to reduce the number of diesel-driven taxis offering service in metropolitan cities by at least 50% by 2020, while by 2025 the number of purely diesel-driven taxis should not be above 33%.
Can people with reduced mobility circulate in vehicles without an environmental label?
YES. People with reduced mobility may circulate in any vehicle – as the driver or as a passenger – whether their vehicle has a DGT environmental label or not. In cases where the vehicle does not have an environmental label, the owner of the vehicle must meet these three requirements in order to apply for exemption:
- Have a certified disability of 33% or more
- Be above the mobility threshold
- Have a vehicle registered in his or her name
Prior registration on the Metropolitan Registry for Foreign and Other Authorised Vehicles is required. Only one application per person is permitted, regardless of the number of vehicles owned. The exemption lasts until the vehicle is replaced. Further information
Do the restrictions disproportionally affect people on the lowest incomes?
The owners of more polluting vehicles who are on low wages (earning below the Public Income Index (IMPREM) plus 10% of the current IMPREM) have a one-year moratorium during which they may circulate, provided that the vehicle is necessary for their professional activity. In other words, they may use their vehicle until 1 January 2021.
The new public-transport fare system for 2020 includes a discount on public-transport travel cards of around 25% on frequent-use cards, in order to promote the intensive use of the metro system, buses, trains and trams and to recognise the users who are most dependent on the public transport system. This is the case for the T-Usual (equivalent to the former T-mes, or one-month card) and the T-Jove, or young-people's card.
Restricting the use of high-polluting vehicles has a greater impact on people with higher incomes, as they own more vehicles and tend to be more dependent on private vehicles. The 2016 Weekday Mobility Survey shows that households in neighbourhoods with the lowest incomes have fewer cars (even old ones) in comparison to richer neighbourhoods, and that they use cars and motorbikes less than the residents of wealthier neighbourhoods, tending to use public transport more often.
I have a car or motorbike without an environmental label. When can I use it?
In order to circulate within the Barcelona Ring Roads LEZ during the time period it is in force, the owners of vehicles without a DGT environmental label may request a 24-hour authorisation from the Metropolitan Registry for Foreign and Other Authorised Vehicles, in order to cover specific LEZ access needs. The authorisation must be requested before 11:59 pm on the day before access is required, and prior registration is necessary. In the case of medical emergencies, the request may be processed within a period of three days after entering the Barcelona Ring Road LEZ. A maximum of ten authorisations will be granted per year. Further information.
Outside of LEZ operational hours (from 7 am to 8 pm), vehicles may circulate freely inside the Low-Emission Zone: on weekdays, Monday to Friday from 8:01 pm to 6:59 am, and 24 hours a day at the weekend and on public holidays.
Under what circumstances may I request a temporary authorisation?
Temporary-access authorisations for the Barcelona Ring Road LEZ are established for vehicles without an environmental label in the following cases:
- Vehicles without any environmental label that obtain a specific authorisation from Barcelona City Council to provide singular services or take part in extraordinary events on public highways within the Barcelona Ring Roads LEZ, and which have already been registered in the Metropolitan Registry for Foreign and Other Authorised Vehicles. Authorisation must be requested before 11:59 pm on the day prior to access. Further information
- Vehicles that transport people with diagnosed illnesses that require access to the Barcelona Ring Roads LEZ in order to receive periodic medical treatment and which have already been registered in the Metropolitan Registry for Foreign and Other Authorised Vehicles. Authorisation must be requested before 11:59 pm on the day prior to access. Further information
- Passenger cars, motorbikes and mopeds from Catalonia and the rest of Spain which do not have a DGT environmental label. When they need access to the BCN Ring Roads LEZ, they must request authorisation before entering. Authorisations are valid for one day (24 hours) and are limited to ten days per year.
I have a medical emergency and can only travel by a vehicle that does not have an environmental label. What can I do?
If you have a medical emergency and your vehicle does not have an environmental label, you may circulate within the Barcelona Ring Roads LEZ. You then have 3 days to request a one-day (24 hour) authorisation at the Metropolitan Registry for Foreign and Other Authorised Vehicles, starting from the day your vehicle entered the LEZ. Authorisations are valid for one day (24 hours) and are limited to ten days per year.
Remember that, as the owner of a vehicle without a DGT environmental label, you must already be registered on the Metropolitan Registry for Foreign and Other Authorised Vehicles.
I suffer from an illness that prevents me from using public transport. What can I do?
Vehicles without an environmental label which are used for transporting people with diagnosed illnesses that make it impossible for them to regularly use public transport are included in the exemptions listed in the LEZ by-law, and they can therefore circulate within the Barcelona Ring Roads LEZ. Until the vehicle is replaced. Prior registration on the Metropolitan Registry of Foreign and Other Authorised Vehicles is required.
I am under periodic medical treatment and I need to travel.
People with diagnosed illnesses that need to enter the Barcelona Ring Roads LEZ for periodic medical treatment can obtain a temporary authorisation to travel in a vehicle even when it does not have a DGT environmental label. They must register on the Metropolitan Register of Foreign and Other Authorised Vehicles and request the authorisation before 11.59 pm of the day prior to entering the LEZ.
I am taking part in a singular activity with my vehicle in the city
The owners of vehicles without any environmental labels who have a specific authorisation or municipal licence to carry out singular activities or take part in extraordinary events on public highways inside the Barcelona Ring Roads LEZ may request a temporary authorisation from the Metropolitan Registry of Foreign and Other Authorised Vehicles, making the request before 11:59 pm on the day before entering the LEZ. Further information
Vehicles performing a singular service which require occasional access to the LEZ may apply for a temporary authorisation from the Metropolitan Registry of Foreign and Other Authorised Vehicles, making the request before 11:59 pm of the day before entering the LEZ. Further information
What vehicles provide singular services?
According to the Metropolitan Registry of Foreign and Other Authorised Vehicles and Royal Decree 2822/1998, which establishes the classification according to criteria of use, the following vehicles are included:
CLASSIFICATION BY FUNCTIONAL GROUP | DESCRIPTION | APPROVED CATEGORY | |
05 | Driving schools | Vehicles used for driving practice | N2, N3, M2, M3 |
22 | Armoured vehicles | Vehicles used for transporting people and/or goods, with an enclosed storage space specially reinforced with armour plating. | N1, N2, N3 |
47 | RTV | A specially adapted vehicle used for radio and/or television transmissions | N1, N2, N3 |
49 | Workshop or laboratory | A vehicle adapted for transporting tools and spare parts in order to carry out repairs | N1, N2, N3 |
50 | Library | A permanently adapted and refurbished vehicle used for reading and displaying books | N1, N2, N3, M3 |
51 | Shop | A specially adapted and permanently refurbished vehicle used for selling retail goods | N1, N2 |
53 | Tow trucks | A vehicle equipped with devices that enable it to partially elevate and then tow another vehicle | N1, N2, N3 |
54 | Crane | A vehicle equipped with devices that enable it to raise loads, but not transport them (this does not include vehicles with self-loading devices) | N1, N2, N3, N3G |
56 | Cement mixer | A specially constructed vehicle for transporting the ingredients for cement, which it can mix together in transit | N3, N3G |
58 | Vehicles for fairs | Vehicles adapted for transporting machinery for travelling circuses or fun-fairs | N1, N3 |
66 | Cement pump truck | A pump truck specially designed for moving liquid cement | N3 |
76 | Tarmac lorries | A vehicle designed to spread and lay liquid tarmac on various surfaces | N1, N2, N3 |
77 | Road marking machines | Vehicles used to paint signage lines on the ground | N1, N2, N3 |
What about vehicles from other provinces?
All vehicles circulating inside the Barcelona Ring Roads LEZ are subject to the same restrictions, regardless of which Spanish province they were registered in.
What about vehicles with foreign number plates?
All vehicles circulating inside the Barcelona Ring Roads LEZ are subject to the same restrictions, regardless of the country they were registered in.
In order to enter the Barcelona Ring Roads LEZ, all vehicles with foreign licence plates are first required to apply for authorisation from the Metropolitan Registry of Foreign and Other Authorised Vehicles.
Foreign vehicles that have an equivalent standard to the DGT environmental label may obtain authorisation to circulate (for up to two years). The most polluting vehicles, which do not have any equivalent to DGT environmental labels, must request a one-day (24-hour) authorisation from the Metropolitan Registry of Foreign and Other Authorised Vehicles in order to enter; a maximum of 10 one-day permits are issued per year.
Can I circulate inside the LEZ in a vintage vehicle?
Vehicles that are classified as vintage are subject to the same restrictions as all other vehicles. In order to circulate within the Barcelona Ring Roads LEZ, you need to request a special one-day (24-hour) authorisation from the Metropolitan Registry of Foreign and Other Authorised Vehicles; a maximum of ten one-day permits are issued per year.
How are vehicles monitored inside the LEZ?
Monitoring will be carried out automatically by using cameras that compare licence plates to the corresponding DGT environmental label and the Metropolitan Registry of Foreign and Other Authorised Vehicles.
This automatic control system, which uses over 100 cameras to read licence plates at various locations in the Metropolitan Area, provide local authorities with data on the vehicles identified within their territory, in order to establish appropriate fines in the case of any offences.
What are the fines?
Non-compliance with established municipal by-law regulations in the municipalities affected by the Barcelona Ring Roads LEZ leads to fines that start at €100. In the case of any re-offending, the fines may be increased by 30% over that minimum amount.
ZBE Rondes BCN fines, initially scheduled for April 1 and postponed due to the covid9, enters into force for motorcycles and cars on September 15, 2020.
Barcelona City Council will allocate the money obtained from these fines to actions that foster sustainable mobility.
Why does my vehicle not have a DGT label when it has passed the MOT vehicle-emission tests?
In order for vehicles to be considered suitable for circulating within the LEZ, they must first pass the current European Union regulations concerning vehicle approval and registration. Among other technical specifications, these regulations establish limits on pollutant emissions into the atmosphere. Among other things, the periodic obligatory MOT inspections check that each vehicle's emissions are in line with the originally approved limits, i.e. the limits when they came off the factory production line.
The pollutant-emission limits for new vehicles approved and registered in the European Union have undergone a sharp decrease in recent years, thanks to improvements in anti-pollutant technologies. This means that although the older vehicles may pass the emission controls carried out during these periodic MOT inspections, they originally had more permissive emission limits than those applied to newer vehicles today. Therefore, they potentially have higher emission levels.
However, there are very old vehicles, such as those fitted with diesel engines and registered before 1 January 1980, that are exempt from emission controls.
If my vehicle cannot circulate because it does not have a DGT label, why do I have to pay the vehicle tax?
Tax on mechanical traction vehicles (IVTM) must be paid by any person who owns a vehicle that can be used on public highways, whatever its class or category. The tax affects the natural or legal person whose name features on the vehicle's registration certificate, as recorded in the Provincial Traffic Prefecture's vehicle registry. This is a direct, mandatory tax that is paid directly to the municipality.
Vehicles that do not have a DGT environmental label and have not been removed from the Provincial Traffic Prefecture's vehicle registry may circulate within the Barcelona Ring Roads LEZ on weekdays, Monday to Friday, from 8:01 pm to 6:59 am, and every weekend without time restrictions. Outside the Barcelona Ring Roads LEZ, vehicles may circulate freely.
Remember that, in accordance with the taxation by-law regulating the Tax on Mechanical-Traction Vehicles (IVTM), Barcelona City Council establishes exemptions and discounts for paying this tax, according to the type of vehicle. This includes vehicles that are considered to be vintage, as well as those with a Zero Emissions or Eco DGT environmental label (75% discount), and petrol or bioethanol vehicles with environmental label C, for CO2 emissions of up to 120 g/km (25% discount), among others.
What regulations cover the LEZ?
All the municipalities have specific by-laws that regulate the LEZ, using current European, Spanish and autonomic-community directives, regulations and laws concerned with improving environmental quality as a reference. In Barcelona city, the process of drafting and approving the by-law included a participatory process that was open to city residents (June-September 2019), which preceded the municipal procedure that ended in the Full Council Meeting held in December 2019.
The aim of the by-law is to cut atmospheric emissions from motor vehicles, which are the biggest cause of local pollution levels in the city.
How will we know what effect the LEZ has on air quality?
In Barcelona city, it is Barcelona City Council's responsibility to obtain and analyse indicators that measure the results arising from the introduction of the Barcelona Ring Roads LEZ, its effect on air quality and other aspects of the city. The periodically-obtained data will be published on municipal information channels in order to inform the general public.
How many vehicles are affected by the restrictions?
The restrictions affect a total of 50,000 vehicles, around 20% of the vehicles currently circulating in the LEZ. It is calculated that within the next four years, 125,000 polluting vehicles will be taken off the roads.
What other cities have a LEZ?
Over two hundred cities around Europe have already established low-emission zones in urban centres, with restricted access for the most polluting vehicles. Large population centres in Europe, such as Brussels, London, Paris, Milan and Rotterdam, have a huge amount of traffic and therefore high levels of atmospheric pollution.
Some examples:
Brussels: 161 km² (19 municipalities), since 2019.
London: Low-Emission Zone: 1,580 km², since 2017. Ultra Low-Emission Zone: 21 km², since 2019.
Madrid Central: 4.7 km², since 2019.
What criterion is being used to impose vehicle restrictions?
Temporary restrictions and subsequent prohibitions on the most polluting vehicles in terms of driving in the LEZ and parking on the street are part of the measures to reduce the number of vehicles in the city, especially the ones that are most harmful to health, as well as favouring cleaner vehicles. They are based on the classification of vehicles carried out by the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT), in accordance with the National Air Quality and Atmospheric Protection Plan 2013-2016, formulated by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and the Environment. The restrictions are applied progressively to the most polluting vehicles.
THE DGT ENVIRONMENTAL LABEL
How can I find out about the DGT environmental label for my vehicle?
You can check what DGT environmental label has been allocated to your vehicle on the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT), Barcelona City Council and AMB websites. Enter your vehicle's licence number to find out if it is affected by the traffic restrictions defined for the Barcelona Ring Roads LEZ.
My vehicle qualifies for an environmental label, but I don't have one. Where do I apply for one?
The owners of vehicles that have been allocated a B, C, ECO or Zero-emission environmental label who have not yet received it may obtain one from Post Offices or through a licensed administrative agent. You can also request a label through a workshop that is a member of the Barcelona Association of Vehicle Repair Workshops. For further information, go to the DGT website or call 060.
Is it obligatory for me to stick the DGT environmental label on my vehicle? Can I be fined for not displaying one?
Displaying the label is not obligatory, but it helps the Guàrdia Urbana and other municipal police forces with manual control operations. It is therefore recommended to display it.
Drivers circulating without displaying their DGT label may be stopped inside the Barcelona Ring Roads LEZ in order to check their vehicle's documents and licence number, as well as to verify whether it is subject to traffic restrictions or not.
Is diesel the most polluting fuel?
In the 1990s, the European strategy for reducing greenhouse-gas emissions (especially CO2) consisted of opting for more efficient vehicles that consumed less fuel. As a result, diesel-engine vehicles were the most widely sold by the end of the decade. Unfortunately, while it is true that diesel engines emit less CO2 than petrol ones, they emit higher quantities of other very harmful components: suspended particles (PM2.5 and PM10) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). According to calculations made by the Generalitat of Catalonia, a petrol-driven passenger car registered before the Euro 1 regulation (over 20 years old) emits 58 times more NO2 than a new one. Withdrawing a diesel vehicle that is over 20 years old from circulation would be the equivalent of removing 35 modern vehicles.
Do vehicles without an environmental label really pollute more?
Yes, they do. The vehicles that have not been allocated an environmental label are the ones that pollute most. The classification system employed by the General Directorate of Traffic is in accordance with the 2013-2016 National Air Quality and Atmospheric Protection Plan drafted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and the Environment. This is a labelling system according to emission regulations – Euro technology - and the type of fuel.
There are a number of studies which have determined that vehicles without any environmental label have higher emission levels of local pollutants (PM and NOx). The study Characterising circulating vehicles and their emissions in the Barcelona Metropolitan Area (2017, Barcelona City Council, the AMB and the RACC Foundation) determined that the vehicles with DGT environmental labels saved between 32% and 80% of NO2 emissions and between 69% and 94% of PM emissions, compared to a vehicle without any label.
Recently, an Organisation of Consumers and Users (OCU) study indicated that 15% of vehicles on the roads that have not been allocated an environmental label are responsible for 50% of pollutant emissions.
Why don't I have the right to circulate in my vehicle, which does not have an environmental label, where I want and when I want?
The law concerning traffic, motor-vehicle circulation and road safety establishes the power of local bodies to restrict the transit of certain vehicles on urban roadways for environmental reasons, as well as establishing the various types of restrictions, including traffic restrictions, pedestrianised areas, resident-only areas, etc. Legally speaking, these kinds of actions are completely compatible with people's right to mobility and circulation.
The Barcelona Ring Roads LEZ temporarily restricts vehicle circulation within a specific area for health reasons and to preserve air quality. Outside of that area and time period, vehicles without any environmental label are free to circulate.
Mi vehículo tiene derecho a etiqueta ambiental por cumplir categoría Euro, pero ahora consta como muy contaminante. ¿Cómo puedo solicitarlo?
Si tu vehículo tiene reconocida la categoría Euro necesaria para disponer del distintivo ambiental de la DGT, según aparece en la documentación del motor de tu vehículo, puedes solicitar dicho distintivo ambiental a la DGT.
Será necesario que previamente el concesionario de tu vehículo, con la documentación acreditativa correspondiente, solicite a la marca del vehículo la expedición de un certificado de cumplimiento con la normativa Euro necesaria. Posteriormente, en la oficina de la ITV te tramitarán los cambios en la ficha técnica de tu vehículo. A partir de aquí, la DGT incluirá tu vehículo en la categoría del distintivo ambiental que le corresponda, y se te informará convenientemente.
La DGT habilitará próximamente - invierno 2020 - un procedimiento para que todas las personas conductoras de vehículos afectados puedan realizar este proceso.
Más información en la web de la DGT o llamando al 060
GETTING AROUND ON SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT
What are the advantages of travelling on public transport?
Travelling on public transport prevents unnecessary traffic jams, provides you with more time for reading, chatting or listening to music in a relaxed way, and it saves you money.
Barcelona has an extensive network that includes buses, metro lines, trams, railways and trains. There are over 2,513 public transport stops distributed throughout the territory to enable people to make their daily journeys. The network is undergoing continuous improvement to make it a more efficient service, with more connectivity and improved intermodality between the various modes of transport. 95% of the population has a high-quality bus service less than 300 metres from their front door. The metro network has 156 stations and over 140 trains operating during the rush hour on every working day.
There are also 40 metropolitan bus lines, 90 more bus lines in Barcelona, 8 metro lines, 4 local railway lines, 6 tram lines and an interconnected network of train stations.
T-Verda: alternative mobility for people using vehicles that do not have environmental labels
The T-Verda is a public-transport card that gives the bearer the right to three years of free public transport on all ATM transport services, in exchange for scrapping a vehicle that is considered to be very polluting. This is a free public transport pass for the entire integrated metropolitan area (six zones). Within the area of the 36 metropolitan municipalities, the T-verda is administered through the AMB information service. The Catalan regional government will extend it to the other municipalities under the T-Verda name.
People who decommission and scrap a polluting vehicle and refrain from obtaining a new one during the three-year period will enjoy the benefits of a Verda Metropolitana ticket. Beneficiaries must prove that they are of legal age, are a registered Barcelona resident living within the Metropolitan Transport Area, that they have given away a vehicle they own, and that they pay the tax on mechanically powered vehicles (IVTM) within one of the integrated municipalities. The ticket must be renewed annually. Ticket holders may transfer the use of their ticket on one single occasion to a substitute beneficiary, and this can be any member of their family unit. Tickets will be issued and renewed free of charge at customer-assistance centres established by the Barcelona Metropolitan Area (AMB) for residents of the 36 metropolitan municipalities and by the Association of Municipalities with Urban Transport (AMTU) for the rest of the AMB area.
Vehicles given up for scrap can be collected up to six months before applying for a T-Verda ticket. Vehicles that fall under this option include:
- Diesel passenger cars, usually registered before 2006
- Petrol passenger cars usually registered before 2000
- Motorbikes usually registered before 1/7/2004
- Mopeds usually registered before 17/6/2002
What can I do if I only have the option of using a private motor vehicle for my journeys?
If you only have the option of using a private motor vehicle for your journeys, consider the possibility of sharing the least polluting vehicle possible with other people who are travelling on the same route: you will reduce pollutant emissions and your journey will be cheaper and more enjoyable. Combine this with public transport wherever possible; there are interchange car parks next to public transport stops.
The public transport network for Barcelona and its metropolitan area is undergoing continuous improvements to meet the population's needs. Consult the available possibilities for using public transport on the Com s’hi va [How to get there] municipal website, the On vols anar? [Where do you want to go?] AMB website, or the Generalitat of Catalonia's Mou-te [Get moving] website.
There is also the option of using sustainable mobility through companies offering vehicle rentals or car sharing.
What subsidies are available for less-polluting mobility?
Public administrations offer various categories to stimulate more sustainable mobility, including subsidies for purchasing low-emission vehicles, rebates on taxes, toll charges and other charges linked to mobility, as well as support for vehicle fleets.
- Social charges on public transport
Discounts on Mechanical Traction Vehicle Tax (IVTM) of up to 75% - Free regulated street parking on (Green Area) streets and free recharging at electric-vehicle charging stations
- Incentives to buy alternative-energy vehicles, aimed at the transport sector (taxi, goods transportation) and for private use
- Registration tax (vehicles for people with disabilities, vehicles with more than nine seats, among others)
- Discounts on tolls along the Generalitat's motorways
- Access to VAO bus lanes
What can I do to reduce pollution?
Travel on foot, by bicycle or non-motorised transport whenever you can: not just for the resulting health benefits, but for the whole city too, as it means one less vehicle causing atmospheric pollution, noise and traffic jams.
If you walk or cycle during rush hours, look for alternative routes where there is less traffic: that will cut down on the time your route takes and give you cleaner air to breathe.
Use public transport rather than your private car, or share a less polluting car with other users who are travelling the same route as you.
What improvements have been made to metropolitan public transport?
The metropolitan public transport network has been reinforced to coincide with the operational launch of the LEZ:
- Integrated metropolitan fares for the 36 metropolitan municipalities
- The Metropolitan T-Verda
- Interchange car parks (Park & Ride). The service works through a mobile phone app
- Metropolitan buses: AMB Exprés and AMB Metrobús, which are coordinated with and complement the NXB and the renewal of the fleet.
- Structural reinforcement of public transport: the purchase of new trains and measures to increase train frequency on the metro network. Increased frequency on FGC, TRAM and Rodalies-Renfe local-train public transport networks in the Metropolitan Area.
AIR POLLUTION
Is Barcelona's air very polluted?
Barcelona city registers pollution levels (especially PM10 suspended particles and nitrogen dioxide - NO2, emitted by vehicles) that are above WHO recommended levels and which are very harmful to people's health. 98% of the population could be exposed to PM10 levels and 68% to NO2 levels that are above the limits established by the WHO.
What are the main air pollutants?
Suspended particles (PM2.5 and PM10) are generated by hydrocarbon and biomass combustion, although they also come from dust caused by construction and demolition work, abrasion between tyres and road surfaces, vehicle brakes and natural sources (Saharan dust clouds). The other major pollutant is nitrogen dioxide (NO2). The main source of emissions is vehicle traffic. Other compounds are present in Barcelona's pollution, although at levels that do not usually go over public health limits. They include: tropospheric ozone (O3), sulphur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
What causes air pollution?
The main sources for these high pollution levels are vehicle traffic, combustion, building work and other dust-producing activities, the industrial sector and the Port. Barcelona is the European city with the highest density of vehicles, double that of Madrid and triple that of London.
60% of nitrogen oxide (NO2) emissions comes from traffic, 13% is generated outside the municipality, 8.3% comes from the industrial sector, 7.6% from emissions in the port and 11.1% comes from other sources (heating, combustion, etc.). Source: Barcelona Air Quality Improvement Plan.Barcelona City Council.
In regard to suspended particles (PM10), 71% is generated outside the municipality, 21% comes from traffic and the remaining 8% comes from other sectors (heating and combustion, construction work and the Port). Source: Barcelona Air Quality Improvement Plan.Barcelona City Council.
How does pollution affect our health?
It is one of the European Union’s main public health problems, causing 300,000 premature deaths every year. A reduction in pollution levels in the Barcelona conurbation, down to the thresholds recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO), would prevent 659 premature deaths in the city every year and increase the life expectancy of city residents by 52 days. The number of deaths in Barcelona due to excessive pollution is calculated at 350.
Polluted air affects our cardiovascular and respiratory systems. It also affects our immune and endocrine systems and our fertility, contributes to the appearance of asthma and diabetes, slows down lung and brain development in children, and generally lowers our quality of life and life expectancy.
Does pollution affect us all in the same way?
No. One segment of the population is especially vulnerable to the effects of pollution: children under the age of six, senior citizens, adults with cardiac or respiratory problems and pregnant women. These groups are the main users of public transport, the ones who pollute the least but who are the most affected by emissions from high-polluting private vehicles.
How is air pollution measured in Barcelona?
In order to detect the presence of air pollutants, Barcelona City Council has an analysis centre, the Barcelona Public Health Agency's Department of Environmental Health, which controls the monitoring stations that form part of the Catalan Atmospheric Pollution Monitoring and Forecasting Network (XVPCA). The Barcelona Public Health Agency produces annual reports on how the levels of these pollutants change over time.
Where can I find information about pollution in Barcelona?
All the data obtained by the Atmospheric Pollution Monitoring and Forecasting Network (XVPCA), through automatic and manual equipment, is available online at the Barcelona Air Quality website and the website address of the Generalitat of Catalonia. Barcelona City Council provides information about the main pollutants on municipal websites and social media (Twitter @BCN_Ecologia).
If you would like to know more, come to Barcelona City Council's Environmental Education Document Service. You will find educational resources so that schools can conduct research on air pollution, materials for associations and groups, and documents for individual use.
How is air pollution tackled in Barcelona?
The city works together with all the other public administrations to improve air quality. In November 2016, the City Council approved its Measures Against Atmospheric Pollution in Barcelona Programme in order to combat air pollution in the city. The programme includes 58 structural and extraordinary initiatives for combating high levels of pollution, during air-pollution episodes as well as on a more day-to-day basis. Barcelona City Council also has an Urban Mobility Plan for safe, sustainable, equitable and efficient mobility, and its 2015-2018 Plan for Improving Air Quality in Barcelona.
In tandem with restricting the most polluting vehicles inside the LEZ, measures to foster more sustainable mobility are being activated. In regard to public transport, these include: the bus network being expanded and improved, the tram line connection being fostered and the network of bicycle lanes being expanded to cover the entire city. In the urban part of the city, actions like the Superblock Programme and pacifying streets make it possible to progress towards a healthier, sustainable urban model with local green areas. Actions are also being carried out in the area of energy saving (in municipal buildings and facilities, in new housing – solar panels, cool-heating systems, etc. – ) and in greening municipal vehicle fleets (cleaning services, parks and gardens, etc.).
Does air pollution in the metropolis affect public health?
Yes, atmospheric pollution has a relevant impact on the health of Metropolitan Area residents. Although air quality is slowly improving, atmospheric pollution continues to be the biggest environmental health issue in our territory. According to the latest report from the European Environment Agency (EEA, 2018), atmospheric pollution is directly responsible for over 500,000 premature deaths in Europe every year.
What is the air in the Metropolitan Area like?
In the Metropolitan Area, the pollution thresholds established by the EU and the World Health Organisation are exceeded for NO2 and PM, which constitute a threat to public health of the first order.
What effects does pollution have on people's health?
According to the European Environment Agency and the World Health Organisation, the effects of air pollution on our health include: effects on our central nervous systems (PM), asthma and reduced pulmonary function (PM), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (PM), effects on our reproductive system (PM), effects on the liver, the spleen and blood (NO2), lung cancer (NO2 and BaP) and cardiovascular effects (PM, SO3, O3).
What does the scientific community say?
The high level of atmospheric pollution has direct effects on people's health and the scientific community has been able to calculate parameters for over 3,000 premature deaths a year in the Metropolitan Area. Without going any further, the latest report on Barcelona’s state of health was presented in November. It indicated that lung cancer is now the biggest cause of premature death among women. It also indicated that 70% of the population was exposed to NO2 levels that were above the limits recommended by the WHO and the EU.
In recent years, there has been a lot of evidence linking health to pollution. More specifically, studies relate atmospheric pollution to various pathologies:
- A study led by the Barcelona Global Health Institute (ISGlobal), a centre promoted by the ‘la Caixa’ Bank Foundation, emphasised that expanding bicycle-lane networks in cities could provide considerable health and economic benefits. More specifically, expanding bicycle-lane networks in European cities could avoid up to 10,000 premature deaths. In the case of Barcelona, if all streets had bicycle lanes, 248 premature deaths would be avoided every year. (Preventive Medicine, January 2018)
- A study performed by Barcelona's Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM) and the Barcelona Global Health Institute (ISGlobal) reveals that high levels of pollution increase the risk of suffering an atherothrombotic stroke by 20% (Environmental Research, 2018)
- Experts from Barcelona's Vall d’Hebron Hospital Campus and the CIBER in its Cardiovascular Illnesses section (CIBERCV) carried out a study demonstrating that on days when atmospheric pollution levels are higher in the Barcelona Metropolitan Area, there are more heart attacks. (International Journal of Cardiology, 2017)
- The Lancet Commission on Pollution and Health indicates that pollution caused 23,987 deaths in Spain in 2015, which is 1 out of every 17 deaths. (The Lancet, 2017)
- A large-scale epidemiological study made by the Barcelona Global Health Institute (ISGlobal), a centre promoted by the ‘la Caixa’ Bank Foundation, and the American Cancer Society links some air pollutants to deaths from kidney, bladder and colon cancer. The research monitored over 600,000 adults for 22 years (from 1982 to 2004). It linked death from 29 types of cancer to residential exposure to three environmental pollutants: PM2.5, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and ozone (O3). (Environmental Health Perspectives. 2017)
- The latest research by Barcelona’s ISGlobal indicates that an increase of 5 μg/m3 of PM10 in the air we breathe results in the loss of nearly one year of life (Environment International, 2016).
- Negative effects on the development of children subjected to atmospheric pollution in schools has been established (Project BREATHE), as well as greater hyperactivity and attention deficit in adolescents (Environment International, 2016).
- Atmospheric pollution is the cause of various cerebral illnesses, including strokes and cerebrovascular accidents (WHO), degenerative illnesses (Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, 2015) and various mental health problems (JAMA Psychiatry, January 2013).
- There is multiple evidence of the effects on the respiratory apparatus, including lung cancer (WHO), pneumonias (WHO), various pulmonary illnesses (Thorax, 2009, 64) and chronic pulmonary obstructions (WHO).
- Lastly, there are also various outstanding studies concerning the impact on the reproductive system (CREAL-ISGlobal) and on coronary illnesses (Circulation, 2010 and WHO).
Do industries, vessels and aeroplanes pollute more than motor vehicles?
Industries, vessels and aeroplanes also generate pollution. However, in terms of public health, and in relation to the quality of the air we breathe in large cities, the most densely urbanised areas, 80% of the pollution comes from land transport.
CIRCULATING DURING A POLLUTION EPISODE
Which vehicles cannot circulate during a pollution episode?
Whenever the Catalan government declares an episode of NO 2 pollution, Barcelona City Council simultaneously activates its Action Protocol for high-pollution episodes along with measures established in its corresponding Mayoral Decree, during which time the granting of daily permits for driving through the low emissions zone will be halted until the end of the episode
How do I know a pollution episode has been activated?
Barcelona City Council informs the general public about preventative warnings and pollution episodes on the city's information channels (websites, social networks, press service) on its free email pollution-warning service and on the 010 free telephone service.
During pollution episodes with traffic restrictions, the City Council will, as a minimum, provide information to that effect by 3 pm on the same day that the pollution episode is declared, and the measures will come into force the following day, from 7 am to 8 pm, Monday to Friday, for as long as the episode lasts. The measures will be in force throughout the day until the end of the episode is announced.
The Generalitat of Catalonia, the AMB and ATM also provide information through their media and corporate channels.
Will parking charges change during a pollution episode?
Yes. While a pollution episode with traffic restrictions persists, regulated street-parking charges for non-residents in Blue and Green Areas will increase by €2/hour, except in the case of Zero Emissions vehicles.
What restrictions apply in episodes of pollution?
Once an episode of atmospheric NO 2 pollution is declared, and until it is de-activated, the most polluting vehicles will be banned from Barcelona’s ring-road low emissions zone and the granting of daily established permits halted, provided none has been applied for before the declaration of the episode.
WHAT IS AN AIR POLLUTION EPISODE AND HOW CAN IT BE PREVENTED?
What is a pollution episode?
An air pollution episode occurs when levels of atmospheric pollutants exceed the threshold values established by the European Union (EU) and become harmful to people's health. It can occur as many as three times a year in Barcelona, especially regarding suspended PM10 particles (80 µg/m³ or more than three consecutive days at 50 µg/m³) and nitrogen dioxide NO2 (200 µg/m³ or more).
The Generalitat of Catalonia can declare a high air-pollution alert in two phases – a preventative warning or air pollution episode, depending on pollutant concentration levels and the pollutant concerned: PM10 and NO2. There may be cases where the activation of one phase involves both pollutants at the same time.
Health and mobility advice for pollution episodes
Barcelona City Council offers recommendations to the general public in the event of pollution.
The entire population is advised to:
- Travel around on foot or by bicycle and use streets with less traffic whenever possible.
- Opt for public transport instead of private transport.
- If your only option is to use a private vehicle, share it or combine its use with public transport.
- Adjust air conditioning in the office and at home to avoid excessive heating or cooling, and open windows for ventilation when there is less traffic on the street.
- Start and stop your vehicle gently and make sure tyre pressures are properly adjusted, in order to reduce the emission of polluting particles.
- During a PM10 episode, you should also reduce intense outdoor physical activity.
- The more vulnerable members of the population (such as people with respiratory or cardiac illnesses, pre-school children, senior citizens and pregnant women) are advised to:
- In the event of a preventative PM10 warning or an NO2 episode, you should reduce intense physical exercise, especially outdoors.
- During a PM10 episode, you should avoid intense physical exercise, especially outdoors.
Go to this Barcelona Public Health Agency link to see all the recommendations for reducing your exposure to air pollution and protecting people's health (the general public, schools, etc.).
What measures are activated for each air pollution episode?
During every scenario declared by the Generalitat of Catalonia, the City Council deploys a municipal action protocol which provides for a series of measures adapted to each case. Only an NO2 pollution episode activates the special reinforcement of public transport (T-aire, etc.), possible traffic restrictions and increased parking charges for non-resident vehicles in green zones.
The measures that are implemented during each pollution episode (according to degree and pollutant) are as follows:
Nitrogen dioxide (NO2)
Early warning stage
- Public communications through internal and external channels.
- Activating awareness-raising campaigns.
Pollution-episode stage
- Public communications through internal and external channels.
- Increasing public transport services using all available resources.
- Increasing regulated street-parking tariffs.
- Possible traffic restrictions.
- Activating awareness-raising campaigns.
Suspended particles (PM10)
Early warning stage
- Public communications through internal and external channels.
- Initiatives on municipal services and public works: irrigating parks and unpaved squares with groundwater and increased hosing down of streets using groundwater.
- Banning the use of blowers in cleaning and greenery work.
- Tighter control in compliance with the Public Works Greening Plan
- Activating awareness-raising campaigns.
Pollution-episode stage
- Public communications through internal and external channels.
- Initiatives on municipal services and public works: irrigating parks and unpaved squares with groundwater and increased hosing down of streets using groundwater.
- Banning the use of blowers in cleaning and greenery work.
- Banning dust-producing activities in public works.
- Activating awareness-raising campaigns.
Do the measures taken during pollution episodes solve the problem?
In the long term, the presence of effective structural measures will do away with the need for extraordinary measures, as it will reduce or even eliminate the pollution spikes that lead to the declaration of pollution episodes. Current measures have a twofold goal: reducing the number of vehicles on the road and making these vehicles less polluting, to the benefit of the entire population. These are measures that discourage the use of cars and encourage the use of public transport.
Getting around on public transport during a pollution episode: T-Aire
This is a multi-person travel card for two integrated journeys, to be used on the same day as the first validation. It is only valid on NO2 pollution-episode days. T-Aire tickets are available within the Barcelona Area's six travel zones and the time allowed for connections will be the same as with any other integrated transport card: 1 hour and 15 minutes for Zone 1, with an extra 15 minutes for each additional zone. The price is equivalent to two T-10 journeys with a 10% discount applied. T-Aire tickets are available in the public transport-operator ticket machines (TMB, FGC, Rodalies de Catalunya and Tram) on pollution-episode days. Sales will be activated as soon as the Generalitat of Catalonia’s Directorate-General for Environmental Quality declares an air-pollution episode and deactivated when the end of the episode has been declared.
Further information