Summary of the bologna “City 30” Ruling & Reactions
Here’s a breakdown of the situation regarding Bologna’s “City 30” speed limit initiative:
What Happened:
* The Ruling: The Emilia-Romagna Regional Administrative Court sided with taxi drivers and annulled bologna’s “City 30” plan. This cancels the detailed urban traffic plan and ordinances establishing 30 km/h speed limits across much of the city.
* The Core Issue: The court didn’t dispute the goal of reducing speed for safety, but rather the method. The “City 30” plan had generalized a 30 km/h limit for most roads, with exceptions for high-traffic areas. The court ruled that speed limits must be set street-by-street, not through broad zoning.
* Background: The plan had been in effect for two years, following an experimental phase. It was controversial from the start, sparking clashes with Transport Minister Matteo Salvini.
Impact & Data:
* Positive Results (according to the Municipality): In its first year, “City 30” was credited with:
* 13% decrease in total accidents
* 50% reduction in deaths
* 11% reduction in injuries
* 10% reduction in accidents with injuries
* No Immediate Change: The ruling doesn’t immediately change the situation, as the Municipality can pursue further action.
Reactions:
* Mayor Matteo Lepore: Acknowledges bureaucratic issues with the documentation but affirms the city’s commitment to the planning function of speed limits and intends to move forward with the initiative.
* Road Victim Advocacy Groups (Michele Scarponi Foundation & Italian Association of family Members and Road victims): Strongly support the Municipality and the “City 30” concept. They will stand by Bologna, whether it appeals the ruling or restarts the approval process.They emphasize the safety benefits and advocate for similar measures in other cities.
* Legal Expert (Tommaso Rossi): Highlights that the ruling criticizes the procedure used, not the objective of reducing speed. He believes the plan can be salvaged by following the court’s guidelines for a street-by-street approach.
In essence, the ruling is a procedural setback, not a rejection of the idea of lower speed limits for increased safety in Bologna. The city now needs to revise its approach to comply with the court’s requirements.
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