The area promotes sustainable mobility, covers 63 hectares and will have a speed limited to 20 kilometers per hour
Benidorm creates a Low Emission Zone to reduce traffic in the Center and first line
The traffic restrictions, which will not affect the residents in this area, will take full effect in mid-January
Benidorm has created a Low Emission Zone to reduce the intensity of traffic and the presence of polluting vehicles in the Center and the first line, thus favoring a “more sustainable mobility”, as reported today by the area councilor, José Ramón González de Zárate. The Low Emissions Zone "has a surface area of 63 hectares, where you must circulate at a maximum speed of 20 kilometers per hour and in which access is only allowed to authorized vehicles, including residents in this area".
The Low Emissions Zone is delimited by Europa Avenue at its confluence with Lepanto, extending from the first line of Levante to the Center and the Old Town, and from there reaching the maritime strip of Poniente to the intersection of Armada Española with Vicente Llorca Alós. This Low Emissions Zone encompasses the area between Ruzafa, Venus, Almendros and Marqués de Comillas streets. In addition, vehicle access to two emblematic points of the city is restricted: the Cruz de Serra Gelada and the Ermita and Tossal de La Cala.
De Zárate explained that with the creation of this Low Emission Zone "we consolidate the areas that already operated with restricted access and we expanded this measure to other parts of the city that in recent years have experienced a progressive process of pedestrianization." The councillor has stressed that in this area "the priority are pedestrians" and "the bicycle will have priority over the vehicle", and hence the speed limitation to 20 kilometers per hour, which in some points will be 10 kilometers.
In addition to residents in the streets included in the Low Emissions Zone, the rest of authorized vehicles may also circulate through it, with different restrictions: users with a garage, urgent services, provision of private technical services and companies that carry out their activity in this area, loading and unloading, supply of shops, taxis, collective transport of tourists up to 9 seats, urban and public transport, public services, clients of hotel establishments and tourist apartments, workers of establishments included in the restriction zone, vehicles of works or for events and celebrations, motorcycles, bicycles, and municipal technical services.
Access to people with functional diversity and to pharmacies, public car parks and Tomás Ortuño health center is also included. Likewise, access through Mediterráneo avenue with the exit to Esperanto and through the Armada Española at the height of Racharell is also authorized for vehicles with the 'zero emissions' label of the General Directorate of Traffic.
De Zárate has indicated that "from today until January 20, 2021" this Low Emission Zone and its new traffic restrictions will be "informative" so that "citizens can become familiar" and process the authorizations. This period of about five months will also serve to provide all the necessary operations, such as the installation of cameras and access controls.
The councillor stressed that "we want people to be able to access Benidorm Center, but in an orderly and controlled manner", and stressed that the creation of the Low Emission Zone is "in line with sustainable mobility strategies and measures promoted by the majority of major cities at national and European level ”.
Access for authorized vehicles
To access the restricted sections, authorized vehicles must register in the corresponding registry of the Department, providing the required documentation and which is determined in the decree issued for this purpose, which can be consulted in the Mobility area, section 'Procedures', from the municipal website: https://benidorm.org/es/ay Ayuntamiento/concejalias/movilidad-y-trafico.
