Returning from holiday brings changes to Barcelona’s LEZ: how they affect you

Until now, the ZBE de las Rondas accounted for a large part of the traffic restrictions in Barcelona and its immediate surroundings. However, over recent weeks several municipalities in Baix Llobregat have launched their own low-emission zones, expanding the map of restrictions for people travelling daily around the metropolitan area.

The new localities that already have a ZBE include Sant Vicenç dels Horts, Molins de Rei, Sant Feliu de Llobregat and Sant Just Desvern. These municipalities join the model implemented in Barcelona for years with the aim of reducing pollution and improving air quality in the most densely populated urban areas.

The new zones operate similarly to Barcelona’s. Restrictions mainly affect vehicles without a DGT environmental badge on working days and during the time slots set by each municipality. In addition, administrations recall that control cameras automatically check number plates to verify whether vehicles may enter these areas.

For those who use a car regularly, the recommendation is to review usual routes before September and check whether they cross any of the new ZBEs. It is also advisable to consult the possible authorisations and exemptions provided for certain groups or specific situations, since regulations may vary slightly between municipalities.

The expansion of the low-emission zones forms part of a strategy that will continue growing in the coming years. With more municipalities introducing restrictions and an increasingly demanding environmental framework, metropolitan mobility continues to evolve towards a model in which the use of less-polluting vehicles and public transport will carry ever greater weight.