In 2017, this is what will cost you to park in area ORA in Madrid

Photo: Alberto Francisco (Flickr) CC BY

The city of Madrid is becoming more and more hostile with respect to the vehicles that move in the city or want to park inside it. The city council has approved the fees that you will have the service regulated parking from the summer of 2017.

From 2014 there is a system that discriminates the cars in function of their level of emissions-approved. The cleaner models, electric and plug-in hybrids, pay nothing for parking in a blue zone or green. It is logical, does not pollute anything locally. Plug-in hybrids bring very little to the problem.

rate base distinguishes blue zone (parking) or green zone (of residents), the latter being more expensive. The rates are increased a bit if it is an area of low emissions (ZBE), very close to the center. Also a correction is made in function of the level of occupation of the area, if there is a lot of free site you pay less.

These stickers enable the traffic officers or police to determine the level of emissions of a vehicle without knowing its date of first registration

The distribution of stickers to the DGT along this year serves to easily identify to which technology belongs to each model and how they can discriminate to charge them more fee or less. When one uses a parking meter in Madrid, you must enter the registration. The DGT crosses the data and you can determine your category of emissions. It is faster to use mobile applications, which also allow you to “renew the ticket” without going physically, the officials checked it electronically.

Madrid will do as other european cities and are penalized more for cars that pollute more (equal use), and billed back to those who have invested in cleaner technologies. Right now, in the worst case, you pay a surcharge of 20%, but that will rise to 50%. By cons, the bonus to hybrid models or converted to gas will increase from 20% to 50%.

In other words, if the rate base in the blue area is 1.10 euros per hour, with a gasoline or diesel old will be paid 1,65 euros. In contrast, if using a hybrid, low fee to 0.55 euros. Practically the difference between one and the other happens to be the triple. Let us place ourselves in the worst case, the green zone, and ZBE. The most contaminanes paid 3,37 euros and the hybrid/gas 1,32 € .

future Situation

These measures are not an occurrence of the match and Now Madrid, that is ruling, but settled on the stage of the Popular Party, but failed to implement. The city must comply with the objectives of reduction of emissions relating to the transport, and these fees are intended to reward those who have the least foul the air.

, Fortunately, there is a positive consequence of the change of rates, the minimum time of parking low of 20 to 5 minutes, so that for a very short stop there to pay much and will suffice for a few cents. The system of parking meters is to be used as until now, by entering the registration. In the system prior to 2014 the tickets had no registration information, and were non-transferable. Now you don’t.

Obviously, will be penalized in older models, regardless of how much you use, but are the ones that most aggravate the problem of pollution. For example, the diesel Euro 3 does not have a particulate filter, or any system of reduction of oxides of nitrogen. The gasoline Euro 2 or lower yes, they are catalyzed, but they were allowed to take many more polluting than current models.

A possible solution for owners of cars more polluting is to take them out of the city, sell them, or dropping them. And how to maintain the level of mobility? For sporadic use, it is a choice to turn to car sharing (car sharing), which can be low carbon and not pay for parking, as happens with the smart EV Car2go. Pay by the minute, it is more economical to use very little a car of their own.

Obviously, these measures are not to the liking of everyone, especially those who have an old car not for pleasure, but for lack of budget to buy another. The same can be said for those who use vans or vehicles mixed. will Seem unjust, but it is a matter of public health. The fumes were out of control kills more people than road traffic accidents, and in episodes of high pollution, the traffic will be restricted in an important way.

in Parallel to these measures, which are focused to raise also more, you are making actions to improve the efficiency of public transport, such as the creation of dissuasive car parks to leave the car parked and continue the journey on public transport. As has happened in the old quarters of cities such as Segovia or Avila, the traffic will decrease, as more and more, and that the pedestrian can recover the space lost in favor of cars. Residents that have a car will have life a little easier, the outside less.

Categories of emissions, according to the DGT

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