During the summer, many city residents take advantage of the good weather to get around by bike, or to just take long walks, hikes, promenades.

Unfortunately, however, our home country Italy remains the European country with the highest number of cars per inhabitant.

Despite the bikesharing services offered in many cities, and despite the existing public transportation connecting the typical walkable historic centers, Italians still prefer cars. Eurostat reports that in 2020 there were 750 cars for every 1,000 inhabitants.

Yet cars, by causing traffic jams during rush hours, generate 25% of the global CO2 emissions, with social costs from accident damages amounting to up to 34 billion euros/year. Not to mention CO (carbon monoxide) emissions, particularly dangerous to human health, NOx (nitrogen oxides), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and hydrocarbons (HC).

According to the EEA, about 400,000 Europeans die prematurely each year due to air pollutants. Considering this data, it becomes clear that a radical change is needed in Italy. Many argue that the existing services should be implemented, and that urban areas must be conceived primarily as pedestrian-friendly, not car-friendly, spaces.

What do you think?

 

Sources: Eurostat, European Environment Agency (EEA).