Following the example of the West
“Innovations on the country’s roads usually frighten some drivers. But neither speedometers nor the Low Emission Zone are things we invented. As in many other areas, certain examples from the great cities of the West come to us later.
European cities have long prioritized people over cars in their city centers. That is what we strive for. Every year, we improve the communication infrastructure by maintaining the streets and expanding the network of pedestrian and bicycle paths. In recent years, we have started building bridges. We are renovating public transport from the ground up. We aim to create such conditions so that Kaunas citizens have as many alternatives as possible for their trips”, Tadas Metelionis, director of Kaunas City Municipality Administration, assures in a press release.
The implementation of the low emission zone in Kaunas has been going on for the past few years. It is in the old town that it was decided to make changes due to the extremely high traffic of cars. At peak times, vehicles paralyze the narrow streets. This not only creates traffic jams, but also creates noise and air pollution. These problems are especially acute for local residents, Kaunas who work or study here.
Such a system works successfully in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
No new fees yet
Martynas Matusevičius, the head of the Transport and Traffic Management Department of Kaunas Municipality, reassures that drivers who see signs of the Low Emission Zone in the old town should not be alarmed at least until the end of this year. They can continue to drive through the old town unhindered.
“We are currently checking how the system works, recording statistical data. Only after coordinating everything down to the smallest detail will we make proposals to the city council regarding the operation of the system, tax rates and the application of benefits. Decisions are planned to be made by the end of the year. We will inform you about them in advance and will definitely provide a transition period to get used to such changes.
This will in no way affect those residents who arrive with specific needs and temporarily leave their vehicles after paying the parking fee. The main goal is to reduce transit traffic, when drivers don’t even stop and drive through the old town, thus shortening the road, or they roll through these streets without a specific goal at all,” explained M. Matusevičius.
Cars will be fixed in 11 places
In the first phase, the Low Emission Zone will cover the entire Old Town. The vehicle identification system is installed in a total of 11 places through which to enter or leave the old town.
You can already see light boards with the message “Žalias Kaunas” at the entrances.
The system should start to function fully next year. Entering drivers will then be greeted by distinctive signs that a certain fee for the time spent here is valid in the territory of the old town. When leaving the territory, drivers will be informed about the obligation to pay.
The low emission zone will cover the entire Old Town.
It is estimated that the total price of the system including VAT will reach about 197 thousand. euros.
It’s called monetization
After hearing about the municipality’s plans, a dissatisfied resident of Kaunas Old Town and businessman Matas contacted the editorial office. According to him, the Low Emissions Zone is not a decision that protects the public interest, but in his eyes, as a resident of the old town and a small business owner, it is a pure money grab by the municipality.
“On the basis of what criteria was the decision made to charge entry to the old town?” Old town of Kaunas parking lot is already taxed in the highest Red Zone. Problems with parking lot there is no need to charge. Also, the traffic is not big, so it is necessary to limit it due to pollution – this is pure money-making by the municipality at the expense of the city’s guests, residents and persons running businesses or activities!”, the Kaunian complained.
He asked rhetorically whether Lithuanian and foreign tourists who want to visit the Old Town of Kaunas were thought of when making this decision. Was thinking, in his words, only about how to peel off extra money by double taxation.
Mats also has a question about whether the owners of small businesses (cafes, shops, beauty salons, etc.) were thought about, to whom the flow of customers will significantly decrease, and what will force them to move or close their businesses.
And have you thought about the traders of the weekend old town market and the residents who come to this market to shop?
“When making the decision, was the members of the religious community who want to visit the churches of our old town thought of?” About city dwellers who want to do sports in open spaces, spend time with their family? Kaunians, to whom it will be even more expensive for relatives to visit? When making this decision, was only the city budget thought of?”, the Kaunian continued to raise rhetorical questions.
“It’s not small emissions that matter”
According to him, while traveling through European cities – from Milan, Barcelona, Paris, Amsterdam, Warsaw, Riga or Tallinn, I have not yet seen a Low Emission Zone where it is not needed, except for London. In this city, this zone is located in the very center, where there is a real parking problem and high emissions.
“Even in Vilnius or Klaipėda there is no such tax! Kaunas has repeatedly shown that it does not care about low emissions: free charging of electric cars at the parking lot of Kaunas Castle has been charged, as well as free parking of electric cars in the old town has recently been abolished, although some of the inhabitants of the old town bought them specifically to drive on electricity, and the permit was later revoked.
If the Kaunas municipality’s goal is to see an empty old town and at the same time falling real estate prices, where municipal clerks will be able to buy real estate at cheaper prices, then, I think, the goal will be achieved,” Matas complained.
Kaunas city municipality photo/Low emission zone in the Old Town of Kaunas
His proposal is to quickly find ways to install paid underground parking lots near Kaunas Castle, as well as to receive funding from the state to build the Kėdainiai Bridge on Brastos Street, which would reduce traffic flows that have been tragically clogged since September 1, driving from Birštonas/St. Gertruda streets.
According to Mata, the money-making tax disguised as ecology should be abolished.
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