Restrictions have come into effect on cars with licence plates dated earlier than 2000, which bans them from circulating within an area named ‘Zone 1’, which stretches from Avenida da Liberdade to the Baixa, delimited to the north by Rua Alexandre Herculano, south by Praça do Comércio and covering the area between Cais do Sodré and Campo das Cebolas.
Cars with licence plates pre-dating 1996 are also banned, as of this Thursday, from driving in another area defined as ‘Zone 2’, delimited by Avenida de Ceuta, the Eixo Norte-Sul, and the Avenidas of Forças Armadas, Estados Unidos, Marechal António Spínola, Santo Condestável and Infante D. Henrique.
The restrictions have been introduced as a third phase of an ongoing effort to reduce pollution in certain parts of the capital, following the second phase which was implemented in 2012, and a first phase introduced in 2011.
Ambulances, historic vehicles, residents’ vehicles, police and military vehicles, prison vans, valuables vans, natural gas-powered cars and motorbikes are exempt from the restrictions.
Taxis are also to benefit from a period of exemption until 30 June.