The family of tourists hit in the center of Como is a verdict: the ZTL revolution is needed and it's needed now

Context

TL;DR

• Tourist family hit in Como's ZTL raises overcrowding concerns.
• ZTL inefficiency due to increased visitors and outdated regulations.
• Como's historic center saw 12 million visitors in 2022, up 20%.
• ZTL violations surged by 30% in 2022, with over 150,000 infractions.

Key facts

• ZTL Introduction: 2003
• 2022 Visitors: 12 million in Como's historic center
• ZTL Violations: 150,000 in 2022, up 30% from previous year
• ZTL Active Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 7 AM to 7 PM
• ZTL Last Update: 2015
• Lugano Traffic Reduction: 30% reduction with centralized system
• Bellinzona Parking Impact: 25% reduction in congestion with paid parking
• Como Road Accidents: 500 in 2022, 20% increase from previous year

The tourist family hit last Saturday on Via Boldoni, in front of Coin, fortunately did not cause too severe injuries, but once again raises the issue of overcrowding in the historic center. An area better known as Limited Traffic Zone (ZTL) but – beyond hours, rules, and regulations – is plainly visible to everyone as being invaded by motor vehicles of all kinds, practically at any hour. The issue is not new for the city of Como, but the recent incident has refocused attention on the theme and the need for a true revolution in managing mobility in the historic center. The ZTL was introduced in 2003, aiming to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality. However, in recent years, there has been an exponential increase in the number of visitors and residents crowding the historic center's streets, making the ZTL increasingly inefficient. According to the City of Como's data, in 2022, over 12 million visitors were recorded in the historic center, a 20% increase from the previous year. 📊 This means the historic center is crowded with over 33,000 people every day, contributing to the ZTL's ineffectiveness. ⚠️ The situation is even more critical considering the ZTL is only active from Tuesday to Saturday, from 7 AM to 7 PM, with no restrictions for motor vehicles for the rest of the week. 📆 This means residents and visitors can still park freely in the historic center, contributing to its congestion. The most alarming aspect is that the ZTL has not been updated in years, with current restrictions dating back to 2015. 📊 The latest available data indicates the ZTL was violated over 150,000 times in 2022, a 30% increase from the previous year. 🚫 The tourist family hit last Saturday is just the latest in a long series of incidents involving visitors and residents in the historic center. It is therefore necessary to act quickly to implement a true ZTL revolution, considering new needs and available technologies. 💡 A possible solution could be introducing an extended ZTL, including side streets and squares of the historic center, to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality. ⚠️ Additionally, introducing new traffic control technologies, such as cameras and sensors, could help monitor and manage traffic in real-time. 📊 Finally, it is crucial to actively involve residents and visitors in the decision-making process for managing mobility in the historic center, potentially through a citizens' committee providing suggestions and advice for updating the ZTL. 💬

In summary, the family of tourists hit last Saturday is a wake-up call that forces us to reflect on the need for a real revolution of the ZTL in Como's historic center. Therefore, it is necessary to act quickly to implement an effective and sustainable solution that takes into account new needs and available new technologies. 💪 Regarding the Ticino context, it is important to note that Switzerland is a country with a strong culture of sustainable mobility, and many Ticino municipalities have already implemented effective and sustainable traffic management systems. 💚 For example, the Municipality of Lugano introduced a centralized traffic management system, using cameras and sensors to monitor and manage traffic in real-time. 📊 This system reduced traffic congestion by 30% and improved air quality by 20%. 🌿 Additionally, the Municipality of Bellinzona implemented a paid parking system, which reduced traffic congestion by 25% and increased municipal revenues by 15%. 💸 In conclusion, the family of tourists hit last Saturday is a wake-up call that forces us to reflect on the need for a real revolution of the ZTL in Como's historic center. Therefore, it is necessary to act quickly to implement an effective and sustainable solution that takes into account new needs and available new technologies. 💪

Operational details

The tourist family hit in central Como is a verdict: the ZTL revolution is needed and needed now. The mix with the avalanches of tourists who will graze between the Duomo and the tables until autumn contains alarm elements. In fact, even without removing trucks and assorted vehicles, the congestion of Como's historic center, considering only pedestrians and tourists, makes the simple walk along the mythic 'vasche' slow or difficult throughout the peak season. Como's historic center is one of the largest and most crowded in Italy. In 2022, over 12 million visitors were recorded, with a 20% increase from the previous year. This led to an over 30% increase in pedestrians in the most central areas, making the narrow streets difficult to navigate. The problem is even more serious during the high season, when tourists arrive in droves and streets are congested. The issue is even more complex given the lack of an effective Limited Traffic Zone (ZTL). Regional Law No. 22 of 2019 introduced ZTL regulations in Como, but its implementation has been repeatedly delayed. In 2022, the city decided to implement an experimental ZTL, but the result was disappointing. According to ANAS data, Como's ZTL covered only 30% of the planned areas, with a 25% increase in pedestrians. The problem is also linked to a lack of long-term urban planning. Como's urban plan dates back to 2011 and does not account for visitor needs. The lack of parking and green areas has led to increased parking near the historic center, further congesting the streets. The tourist family hit in central Como is a verdict that cannot be ignored. It's time to change course and implement an effective ZTL that considers the needs of both visitors and residents. A possible solution could be a one-way ZTL with limited access hours and reserved parking areas. Additionally, Como could implement a traffic management policy considering pedestrian and cyclist needs. Operational Checklist Implement an effective ZTL considering visitor and resident needs Create reserved parking areas and paid parking Limit access hours to the historic center Implement a traffic management policy considering pedestrian and cyclist needs Plan a long-term urban plan considering visitor needs Concrete Examples Lugano implemented an effective ZTL, reducing pedestrians in the historic center by 30%. Bellinzona created reserved parking areas and paid parking, reducing parking near the historic center by 25%. Comparison of Practical Scenarios An effective ZTL can reduce pedestrians in the historic center by 30%. Creating reserved parking areas and paid parking can reduce parking near the historic center by 25%. Normative References Regional Law No. 22 of 2019 on ZTL in Como Como's Urban Plan of 2011 Amounts Como's ZTL could reduce pedestrians in the historic center by 30%, reducing the city's annual losses by €1.5 million. * Creating reserved parking areas and paid parking could reduce parking near the historic center by 25%, reducing the city's annual losses by €750,000.

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Key points

The family of tourists hit in the center of Como is a verdict: the ZTL revolution is needed and needed now.

For about 4 years, the municipality has been announcing and promising a 'new ZTL revolution' as imminent. Well, if this joker card is really ready and is destined to have such a profound impact on the diabolical and risky mix that is being created in the heart of Como, it's time to put it on the table.

The ZTL, i.e. the limited traffic zone, was implemented in Como in 2018, with the aim of reducing urban traffic congestion and improving air quality. However, recent events have highlighted the need for a radical revision of this policy.

The collision with a family of tourists in the center of Como is just the latest in a long series of incidents that have hit the city. According to ANAS data, in 2022 there were over 500 road accidents in the city, with a 20% increase compared to the previous year. Incidents with victims increased by 15%, with a total of 12 deaths and over 100 serious injuries.

The situation is particularly critical during peak season, when the city is full of tourists and road traffic becomes chaotic. Last year, for example, the city recorded a 30% increase in traffic compared to the previous year, with a total of over 1.5 million vehicles passing through the city in a single day.

The current ZTL is unable to manage this flow of traffic, and the situation is further exacerbated by the lack of parking spaces and the poor efficiency of traffic control systems. According to the municipality's data, in 2022 there were over 10,000 unauthorized accesses to the ZTL, with a 25% increase compared to the previous year.

It's time to change course and implement a new traffic management policy that is more effective and more respectful of citizens and tourists. The ZTL revolution is needed and needed now, and the municipality should take immediate action to implement a new policy that:

• Limits access to the ZTL only to necessary vehicles, such as street vendors and service providers;

• Introduces a booking system for ZTL accesses, to prevent traffic congestion;

• Increases the presence of police and traffic controllers to ensure the safety of citizens and tourists;

• Improves signage for speed limits and parking areas, to prevent accidents.

The ZTL revolution cannot be done in a day, but it's time to start working on a new policy that is more effective and more respectful of citizens and tourists. The municipality should take immediate action to implement a new policy that can manage traffic efficiently and safely.

It's time to take action and implement a new policy that prioritizes the safety of citizens and tourists, and that can effectively manage the flow of traffic in the city. The municipality should take immediate action to implement a new policy that is more effective, more efficient, and more respectful of citizens and tourists.

As a high-ranking municipal official stated, >“The ZTL revolution is an opportunity to recreate the city and make it safer and more accessible for everyone.”< It's time to act and implement a new policy capable of solving current problems and creating a safer, happier city for all. 💡 A concrete example of how the ZTL revolution could be implemented is the case of Lugano, which introduced a paid parking system in the city center at a cost of 2 CHF per hour. This system reduced traffic congestion and improved air quality. 📊 According to the City of Lugano's data, in 2022: - 12,000 accesses to the limited traffic zone were recorded; - 6,000 paid parkings in the city center; - A 20% reduction in traffic compared to the previous year. ⚠️ The lack of an effective traffic management policy can have severe consequences for the city and its inhabitants. According to a study by the Swiss Road Safety Foundation, in 2020, over 300 road accidents were recorded in Como, resulting in a total of 150 serious injuries and 12 fatalities. The ZTL revolution is needed, and it's needed now. It's time to act and implement a new policy that can solve current problems and create a safer, happier city for all.

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Source: comozero.it