Germany: Diesel driving bans and car-free zones

Over the years, 72 German cities have already set up environmental zones, where traffic is regulated by not allowing some vehicles - deemed too polluting - to enter. But even where such measures are already in place, the specifications are often tightened or new measures are added to complement the stated goal: to limit pollutants in the air that are harmful to the environment and health, starting with the polluting transport sector. 

In Munich, for example, an environmental zone has been active since 2008 and has been working for years to keep the damage caused by vehicle emissions on the city's territory within the Mittlerer Ring under control. Now, however, Munich Mayor Katrin Habenschaden (Greens) and Climate and Environmental Protection Officer Christine Kugler have announced that the area will become larger and include the Mittlerer Ring itself from February 2023. The regulations for entry will also become stricter. Because from then on, not only diesel Euro3 cars, but all vehicles with diesel engines in emission classes Euro 1 to 4 will no longer be allowed to enter the Low Emission Zone. Further tightening from October 2023 is also possible. However, this depends on whether and how much air values have improved since the introduction of the measure.   

The new catalogue of measures is in fact the result of a settlement with the German Ecological Transport Club (VCD) and the German Environmental Aid Association (DUH), which had taken the city to court for years of exceeding the limit values. The authorities' decision was therefore a necessary one to reduce air pollution in the short and medium term - and at the same time to avoid a direct ban from the court and corresponding fines. Nevertheless, opposing opinions were already expressed in the first week, and this despite the fact that the extension and tightening of the environmental zone primarily carry considerable advantages for citizens and the environment.  

On the one hand, Hanno Langfelder, mobility expert at "Green City", is looking forward to it. In his eyes, it is clear that "the diesel driving bans are a necessary milestone for a liveable and sustainable Munich". Martin Hänsel from Munich's nature conservation organisation Bund Naturschutz also expressly welcomes the initiative, although he believes that the ban should be even more consistent - for example, by banning Euro 5 cars in the first step, and then Euro 6 cars in a second step. 

But while some are more or less positive about the new regulations, the changes and additions to the low emission zone are perceived differently by some associations and parties. The inner-city business association "City Partner" is sceptical, especially with regard to the implementation of the diesel bans. The latter is of the opinion that the demarcations of the Euro classes are not "separable" - as well as that the lack of labelling on the vehicles does not allow for a verifiable verification of the right to enter in practice - a clear labelling with new blue environmental badges is missing, as already done by other cities with diesel driving bans. The Bavarian parliamentary groups of CSU, FDP and Free Voters, on the other hand, are clearly positioning themselves against the planned ban. Munich city councillor Jörg Hoffmann (FDP) calls instead for the development of concepts that can make local public transport more attractive, as well as for the construction of the tunnel near Landshuter Allee to be continued.  

On the other hand, the cities of Heidelberg and Bochum decided not to introduce new diesel driving bans, but to create car-free districts. In Heidelberg, the city council had recently decided that no cars would be allowed in the centre of the busy Bahnstadt district. Car traffic is prohibited on the Lange Anger between Da-Vinci and Galileistraße - as well as on Gadamerplatz and the Promenade. The intention is to create a car-free centre where pedestrians and cyclists can move around without encountering motorised traffic. On the one hand, this project is intended to reclaim public space for the citizens and, on the other, to have a positive effect on air quality by reducing vehicle emissions. It should also improve road safety. 

Similar reasons are also moving Bochum in North Rhine-Westphalia, where a car-free zone was also established earlier this month. There, all vehicles have been banned from the entire Hans-Böckler-Straße and Viktoriastraße, as well as from the town hall to Husemannplatz in Bochum. Only delivery men until 11 a.m. - and electric car drivers until 12.30 p.m. - can continue to drive into the city centre. Furthermore, as part of its plans for a car-free neighbourhood, the city is asking residents to make more use of public transport services and, incidentally, to rely more often on bicycle mobility.  

In any case, it is obvious that it is in the interest of many cities to find a solution to the still burdensome air pollution. Increasingly, emission-based traffic restrictions are on the agenda of many authorities - although many critical voices are still raised in this regard. Whether cities should be willing to compromise - yet clear in their objectives - in the case of introducing new climate-protecting measures? And thus enforce such regulations without causing bitterness and discontent among motorists and other interested parties. Because at the end of the day, one thing is clear to all: whether it is a low emission zone, a diesel driving ban or a car-free city, the goal remains the same, and that is to protect the environment and the health of citizens.