Study examines impact of local mobility measures on air quality
Local authorities can significantly improve air quality by implementing a variety of traffic-reducing and green initiatives. This is according to a study published Thursday by the Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO) and the Flemish Environment Agency (VMM) on Thursday. Measures such as creating traffic-free streets, neighbourhoods, and city centres, promoting clean and public transport, limiting freight traffic in urban areas, encouraging cycling, developing green zones and stimulating the electrification of road transport are among the key strategies recommended.
The study examined 20 local mobility measures aimed at reducing harmful emissions like nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter (PM2.5). These measures ranged from small-scale interventions on individual streets to larger municipal efforts. While the greatest improvements in air quality are expected from broad municipal actions, localised efforts can still have a meaningful impact, especially in targeted areas. "A school street, for example, significantly reduces traffic intensity at the school gate and specifically the exposure of children, a vulnerable target group," the report highlights.
The findings illustrate that while local measures may seem modest compared to the contributions of European, Flemish and broader urban sources of pollution, they can still be crucial. The researchers encourage local authorities to focus on identifying bottleneck locations within their municipalities, where targeted interventions can have the most substantial effect.
Additionally, the study urges local governments to take a comprehensive approach, considering not just air quality and mobility improvements, but also the overall liveability of urban environments. For success, the measures should be backed by robust monitoring and evaluation systems. Moreover, citizen participation is encouraged to ensure that these initiatives are community-driven and well-supported.
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