The project presented at the beginning of 2020, which would transform downtown Lisbon into a Reduced Emissions Zone, allowing the reduction of 40% of traffic in the area, was postponed for an indefinite period. Fernando Medina, Mayor of Lisbon, said on the sidelines of the presentation of the pop-up bike lanes program that will propose to the House "the rescheduling of its development" because "what we don't want to be is one more factor of difficulty and disturbance on a life that is very altered at the moment".
Medina said, although ZER ABC is a "project of the utmost importance" which "will be carried through to the end", this is the "more reasonable and considered solution" for all traders, residents, all those who live in, inhabit and seek out downtown Lisbon", at a time when "many stores have not yet opened, many workers are still at home, many are still in lay-off and do not know how their life will return".
The ZER ABC (Avenida-Baixa-Chiado), presented to the public in January this year, should have been in force from this month, according to the timetable presented at the time. The project provided for the limitation of traffic in the area of Avenida, Baixa and Chiado, with the increase of sidewalks, the creation of cycle paths, the pedestrianization of some streets, the prioritization of public transport and the restriction of access and parking in the area to residents and traders.
The Mayor of Lisbon said, however, that he will propose that "proceed immediately with the necessary tendering procedure for the acquisition of the means and resources necessary for the full introduction of the RSZ, such as the gantries, the limiters, the instruments necessary for its implementation".and that for the time being some of the interventions foreseen in the initial plan are progressing through the projects The Street Is Yours e Cyclable Lisbon presented in the meantime."I will propose the commissioning of the RSZ that was planned to take place now for a later date."
