We are all well aware of the effects of pollution and of the troubles caused by the presence of too many vehicles inside the cities. But there are several examples of small towns which have made an ambition out of reducing the number of cars in central areas.
In Belgium, in the town called Mechelen (French, Malines), the existing car-free area has recently been expanded. Cameras with number plate recognition capability monitor compliance within the area. The car-free centre makes the city even more attractive for the Malinois to live, for customers to shop and for tourists to visit, and their number is quite high.
Mechelen is a Flemish city which lies on the major urban and industrial Brussels-Antwerp axis, about 25km from each city. The city also hosts an important rail hub that provides immediate access to both the railway and bus networks with urban and several regional lines.
In recent years the city invested heavily in order to create a city with room for everyone. Research showed that on average 20 to 30% of car traffic in the city was cut-through traffic – traffic that does not belong there and that also creates a lot of inconvenience and insecurity on the roads. Non-intervention would mean that, within a few years, traffic in the centre of Mechelen would become oversaturated. To avoid this impending gridlock it was decided to expand the car-free area and to change the traffic circulation plan. The desired result: a liveable and accessible city for residents, traders and visitors.
Mechelen was one of the first cities to turn its city centre into a 30km/h zone. Many other cities followed suit. Large urban renewal projects attracted new families to the city. Several streets and squares have been redeveloped as pleasant spots with additional space for pedestrians and cyclists.
A portion of downtown Mechelen has since been low-traffic.
The pedestrian precinct was recently expanded. The new circulation plan also extends the car-free area with five additional residential streets and their side streets. The entire car-free zone is car-free every day between 11am and 6pm. In practice this means that the area is always accessible for pedestrians and cyclists. Motorised vehicles (cars, motorbikes) are not permitted between the restricted hours. Public transport, buses, taxis and permit holders are allowed in the zone, also between the restricted hours.
In February 2012 the city could report that the expansion of the car-restricted area was paying off. Since December 2011 remarkably fewer vehicles have been driving in the city. Yet violations have still occurred, but thanks to the cameras, car holders crossing the area have been fined by EUR 50. To reduce the number of offenders, additional signage was used. At each camera pole a big sign reminds the driver of the car-free area (who doesn’t hold a permit) that cars in the area are prohibited and that anyone crossing the restricted area risks a fine. Thus, it is possible to have no cars in the city centre!
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