The Metropolitan Area wants to ban circulation with a yellow sticker in 2028

BarcelonaFewer cars (polluting) and more bicycles. The board of the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona (AMB) approved this Tuesday the new Metropolitan Plan for Urban Mobility (PMMU) 2025-2030, which plans to restrict the passage of vehicles with a yellow sticker through low-emission zones (ZBE) in two years, in 2028. It is the second attempt to deploy this protection belt for air quality, after the pandemic frustrated the initial plan to extend the ban to the yellow sticker already in 2022. the pandemic frustrated the initial plan to extend the ban to the yellow sticker already in 2022.The AMB's proposal is based on the current regulatory framework of the Generalitat, which obliges cities with more than 50,000 inhabitants to limit these types of vehicles, first passenger cars and motorcycles and, later (in 2030), heavy vehicles. But the same body admits that it does not have the capacity to oblige town councils to apply the restrictions, nor for them to use the sanctioning regime.

According to the AMB, the restriction of vehicles with a yellow sticker would affect between 20% and 30% of the metropolitan vehicle fleet. Initially, the ban was planned for 2022, but "the pandemic blew up all the calendars," argues the director of sustainable mobility of the AMB, Marc Iglesias. Now, sales of electric and hybrid cars already exceed those of diesel vehicles; a fact that makes the 2028 scenario seem like an "opportune and passable horizon," despite the Rodalies crisis of recent months and the uncertainty about the new concessions for interurban bus services, which have been extended for 25 years, they add from the metropolitan organization.

The plan not only maintains the date for the yellow sticker, but also foresees the continued expansion of the ZBE to new municipalities, such as Sant Andreu de la Barca, and the definitive integration of those that are already in the process of implementing it. These are Barberà del Vallès, Sant Feliu de Llobregat, Sant Just Desvern, Molins de Rei, and Sant Vicenç dels Horts. "So far, the experience is between good and very good," says Iglesias. Currently, the AMB has 135 cameras installed in the ZBEs to monitor their use, and each day they capture more than half a million license plates passing through the respective municipalities. In addition, it receives around 3,000 calls per month regarding these issues.

More public bikes and connection with Barcelona's Bicing

The AMB also proposes to accelerate the expansion of the cycling network and AMBici (the metropolitan shared bike service) by offering this new service in Vallès. The new plan foresees boosting the Bicivia network to complete it in the coming years. Currently, 78% of the main network has already been executed. Similarly, the metropolitan mobility roadmap also aims to consolidate the Bicibox system – the more than 3,000 enclosed and secure bicycle parking spaces, present in 31 municipalities – including large-capacity facilities that help promote intermodality with other public transport and also the connection between municipalities, with areas such as industrial estates and schools, through cycling or pedestrian networks.

The connection of the so-called "great Barcelona" by bicycle goes even further. The AMB assures that it is also studying the connection of AMBici with the Bicing of the Catalan capital, taking into account that the current contract ends in 2028. The agreement will also depend on the Barcelona City Council and the definition of the future management model.

The AMB, however, boasts: "AMBici has been a success. We currently have 24,000 users and very good acceptance, with 2,600 bikes and 8,000 daily uses – details Iglesias. With these starting conditions, of a consolidated service, we can afford to match the offer throughout the territory and expand and work with Barcelona." In this sense, however, the director of mobility and transport of the AMB, Joan Maria Bigas, points out that the expansion will not be easy, and that it will be necessary to go "municipality by municipality" and study aspects such as whether a unified contract is necessary or not. "It must be analyzed very carefully," he concludes.

Setback for the AMB in bus management

The new metropolitan plan will be born, however, with a snag that this Tuesday has become insurmountable. The AMB intended to assume before 2030 the management of all urban bus lines that run entirely through municipalities of the AMB, many of which still depend on the Generalitat and on which it was planned to tender in 2028. However, as the ARA reported last Friday, the Government has made a 180-degree plot twist, and today announced —through an emergency decree— its plans to extend, for another six years, the current contracts, which have already been expired and extended for more than 20 years.

The decision by the Department of Territory has been a significant setback to the AMB's plans, which sees its objective therefore delayed. Sources from Territory explain that the AMB should not worry because "the service will still have improvements", which will be borne by the operators and supervised by the Generalitat. However, Territory has explained that, if necessary, "specific cases may be studied to separate some lines".

"We have to analyze and evaluate how the new emergency decree affects the AMB and from there make the adjustments that are considered necessary", have valued sources from the metropolitan entity, who assure that until yesterday they were unaware of the Government's change of heart on this matter. The organization has put out to tender nine contracts during this term that cover the entire first ring and part of the second, with actions in areas such as Barcelonès Nord, Baix Llobregat or logistical and industrial environments.