The restrictions on private vehicle circulation that have been in effect since the beginning of 2005 are set to end this month even though air pollution levels still far exceed the limits set by the European Union. Regulations allow European cities to exceed pollution level maximums only thirty-five days out of the year. Only four months into 2005, and Florence has already exceeded these limits 97 times.
The city has recently taken measures to curb air pollution by restricting private vehicle circulation. The historical centre has been all but closed to normal traffic. Those who do enter must possess an electronic pass. For the larger city centre area, an alternating license plate system was put into effect two times a week, prohibiting either odd-ending or even-ending plates from entering the city centre on those days. There was also a total circulation ban one day a week on cars that were acquired before 1996 and fall into the Euro 1 category (these cars will be entirely prohibited to circulate by 2006). But, even with these measures, the city has not been able to manage ever-increasing pollution levels.
Florence’s mayor, Leonardo Domenici, is outraged that no steps are being taken at a national level to help curb air pollution problems. Domenici, also president of the National Mayor’s Association (ANCI), claims that funding requests by local governments to improve public transportation and modernise infrastructures have been all but ignored. ANCI members have discussed taking matters into their own hands by inventing new, local-level solutions for next month, when restrictions will no longer be required under the national regulations.
