It was the data on pollution and road safety that led to the discussion of the 14th stage of the “Clean Cities Campaign”, a project supported by Legambiente and today in Cagliari, with the presentation of the “Stress Test Mobility” of the Sardinian capital.
The Clean Cities campaign, carried out by a European group of associations, aims to encourage and support the transition of cities towards zero-emission mobility within the next decade. An active, shared and electric mobility that aims at a more livable and sustainable urban future, and at the guarantee of better public health.
The presentation of the data took place in an online press conference which was attended by Simone Nuglio, head of Clean Cities Campaign Legambiente, Annalisa Colombu, president of Legambiente Sardegna, Alessio Mereu, councilor for policies for Mobility and Technological Services of the Municipality of Cagliari and Riccardo Pintor, Mobility Manager Legambiente Sardinia.
ENGINE - The motorization rate, according to the data presented, is still very high in the city, also due to the bonuses for new cars granted by the state even for diesel and petrol cars (the only case in Europe). By 2030 Cagliari, according to Legambiente, should also take decisive action to reduce accidents, and in particular "more than halve road deaths", investing in safety, reducing speed and redesigning the most dangerous roads.
THE CONTROL UNITS - Air pollution in the control units that measure urban pollution (therefore above all traffic and heating) is highly critical in light of the new WHO (and soon also European) limit values. According to Legambiente, PM10 must be reduced by 46% by 2030, but above all PM 2.5 by 67% and nitrogen oxides (NO2) by 50%. The NO2 pollutant is closely related to emissions from diesel engines.
"Cagliari still has a mobility centered on cars. Climate change, the effects of pollution and traffic on the health and safety of the roads require an acceleration towards zero-emission mobility by 2030 - declares Annalisa Colombu, regional president of Legambiente -. The Municipality of Cagliari recently approved the preliminary PUC, but it is necessary to review and integrate the PUMS and coordinate it with the new PUC. It is immediately necessary to intervene decisively to reduce accidents, by moderating speed and redesigning the roads more dangerous, to extend the 'zone 30' in the neighborhoods and streets where there are schools and parks. It is necessary to strengthen the cycle network and encourage the use of bicycles in everyday life and pedestrian traffic ".
"COMPLEX PROBLEM" - Air pollution in Cagliari is "a complex problem - continues Colombu - which depends on multiple factors such as traffic, domestic heating, the presence of the port, production activities. Many projects are under development, such as those which will affect the movement of traffic that today crosses the city and the electrification of the port; others are being implemented, such as the electrification of the entire local public transport fleet. Mobility in Cagliari continues to be strongly influenced by commuting and from the regional context of reference, it is therefore urgent to upgrade and rationalize extra-urban transport to and from Cagliari and to build exchange parking lots at the entrance to the city ".
PUBLIC SERVICES - According to the data, the offer of rapid mass transport for the large city of Cagliari, two stations in the city, plus the one serving the airport, along the line to Oristano, is fair. “Interesting” are the two lines of the MetroCagliari, a tram line that crosses the city from south to north until reaching Settimo San Pietro, with 9 10-year-old convoys.
"DO BETTER AND MORE" - According to Legambiente, however, "we must do better and more in the development of paths and cycle paths, the goal of 80 km of tracks and city paths is not high, even if it were limited only to the municipal boundaries ".
There are few roads at calm speeds, outside the historic center. The moderation of speed "is an indispensable measure not only to encourage cycle and pedestrian mobility, but also and above all to reduce the severity of road accidents: with 400 km of roads at moderate speed Cagliari would become a 'city 30'".
We are "halfway through the target in the offer of public transport - explains the report -, thanks also to the relaunch of rail transport, 25% of the TPL offer is electric, still a long way to go for 100% electric buses by 2030, but Cagliari is placing itself in this perspective, especially with the new fast electric bus lines on protected lanes it is building. Good dynamism in the sharing mobility offer, 90% electric: 800 scooters mainly in the center, 60 bikes and ebikes, a hundred cars, only partially electric. In October the scooters were withdrawn, the service was being tested, but the tender for the assignment of the service was launched ".
(Unioneonline / vl)