By private motor vehicle
Motorised vehicles should not be the predominant mode of transport in the city's mobility, as it is still responsible for the city's high levels of air pollution (with its effects on health, mortality and the worsening of various illnesses) and the cause of a significant number of accidents.
Cars and motorbikes should only be used for essential journeys where this kind of vehicle is necessary.
It should be taken into account that the excessive use of motorised vehicles in Barcelona city has harmful effects on our quality of life, as well as reducing the amount of safe, healthy public space available, which most city residents use when they walk or use sustainable forms of transport.
What are we doing about it?
Completing the renewal of parking meters,
Which employ better technology allowing contactless payment, while applying environmental charges that benefit non-polluting vehicles.
Promoting car parks with mobility services and reinforced health measures.
Mobility services in car parks: for bicycles, motorbikes and last-mile deliveries. As well as charging points for electric vehicles and space for car-share operators.
Reinforced health measures: parking space cleaning, limit on lift occupancy and disinfectant gel available for the public.
Application of surface-parking charges for 2020 and increased disinfection of parking meters
The new environmental rates include criteria established by the Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT) to assess the pollution, level of vehicles parked in Blue or Green Areas used by non-residents:
Zero-emission vehicles may park free of charge in Blue Areas for the maximum permitted period. All residents who were awarded the €0.20 discount for good driving before 31 December 2019 will continue to enjoy this benefit throughout 2020.
Blue Areas will also be regulated during the midday time slot between 2 pm and 4 pm. In addition, improper use of the service will result in a penalty and the complaint cancellation fee will be reviewed, rising from €7 to €9.
The Bus Zone Area charges, for coaches that stop and park on city streets, will be updated. The increase will apply to A blue places and B blue places alike, and in both cases coaches with an Eco label will receive a 100% discount.
Rates are rising for Park Güell's logistics platform (€18 for 90 minutes) and BSM parking places at the Barcelona Nord, Moll d’Espanya and Garcia Fària Bus Stations, with different daytime and night-time rates.
Fostering the use of mobile apps (SMOU, etc.).
Launching four vehicles to control the Area,
In order to minimise in-person controls on the street and facilitate the regulation of the Area.
Extending the regulated surface parking areas.
With the aim of fostering a more sustainable mobility, reducing pollution and improving the organisation of public areas, regulated parking will be extended in the coming months with 9,558 new parking places for cars.
This expansion will take place in six districts (Les Corts, Sarrià - Sant Gervasi, Horta-Guinardó, Nou Barris, Sant Andreu and Sant Martí) giving priority to neighbourhoods where regulation benefits local residents the most, and responding to the request of some neighbourhoods to prioritise parking for residents in areas where this is most lacking. Local residents will be allocated free parking places which, until now, were used by drivers from outside the neighbourhood, causing an increase in traffic density and more pollution in the area.
This measure also aims to free up public space, foster the use of underground car parks and comply with the city's commitment with the European Union to reduce pollution levels.
Extending last-mile deliveries throughout the metropolitan area,
In order to facilitate and improve goods deliveries to various municipalities in the metropolitan area.
This June, a new free mobile app, SPRO, was launched for last-mile delivery professionals, to help them with parking at loading and unloading points in the city and the metropolitan area.
The application aims to unify and improve management and parking in the areas designated for the professionals in this sector. Initially, it will be used in Barcelona, Badalona, Castelldefels, Esplugues de Llobregat, l’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Sant Joan Despí and Sant Just Desvern, and it will soon be available for all the other metropolitan municipalities.