The Indonesian capital Jakarta wants to go new ways to fight noise and air pollution: Half of the scooters, mopeds and motorbikes are banned from driving.
With its 10 million inhabitants, Jakarta is one of the largest and most densely populated cities in the world. In addition, there are 16 million motorbikes and 4 million cars. Every year, the number of vehicles increases continuously. And all this on a settlement area that is just twice the size of Munich.
The city authorities have now come up with something: On three days a week, only vehicles with even number plates are allowed on the street, on the other days only those with odd number plates. On Sunday, everyone is allowed to drive in a jumble again.
This is intended to drastically reduce both noise and air pollution. The fine that you have to pay if you are caught with the wrong number plate is also a big one: 30 euros, which is almost one seventh of the average Indonesian wage. So it could really work, but the question is who is willing and able to check the 16 million motorbikes, mopeds and scooters every day? In the long run, electronic registration of licence plates will provide a solution. But even then, there is still the danger that a lively trade in number plates will develop, that the same plates will be exchanged on a daily basis, thus undermining efforts to make the city quieter and cleaner. Another and simpler solution would be the introduction of environmental badges, as is already the case in the European region.
Other cities around the globe are also struggling with air pollution and are introducing environmental zones. Find out in which cities which measures are being taken in tomorrow's October newsletter!