According to the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), the Utrecht environmental zone has little effect on the health of citizens in the city. Many more measures are needed to create an improved living environment.
It has already been demonstrated from various angles that environmental zones have little or no effect. The Utrecht environmental zone is not. In 2016 the air quality even deteriorated for nitrogen dioxide, fine dust (PM2,5) and EC (soot), according to the municipality due to weather conditions such as temperature, wind speed and wind direction. On January 1 the environmental zone Utrecht was established.
Step-by-step restrictions
It was recently announced that step-by-step restrictions for transport vehicles will be introduced. Ultimately, delivery vans in the city center are no longer allowed to produce exhaust gases per 2025. The province of Utrecht wants all buses to run electrically in ten years.
93% particulate matter from outside the municipal boundary
Researchers at Royal Haskoning conclude that the particulate matter in Utrecht's airspace comes for 93 percent from outside the city limits. And in the city, the car is not the only cause of particulate matter generation, let alone the minimum proportion of banned cars in the total supply of traffic.
Ball at central government
Environment Councilor Lot van Hooijdonk (GroenLinks) gave a reaction, and now it seems to see that a total package of measures with regard to improved air quality must be determined nationally. This way we do not achieve objectives. "The ball is now deposited with the province and central government," says Van Hooijdonk
Local issues, national policy
It is clear that local measures do not work. That is why the government is well advised to formulate national policy. For example, by mapping the pain points locally or at provincial level and formulating central policy on them. Moreover, a policy whereby not only the motorist is Kop van Jut. After all, it has served as a backdrop for unsuccessful green principles for long enough.
Let them consider a driving ban for two-stroke mopeds and light mopeds in Utrecht (and hopefully more cities). That will help greatly in reducing air pollution, and reducing noise as a bonus!