Pontevedra took cars out of its centre, kept growing, and cut fossil CO2 by 67 percent
Hook
Pontevedra started taking cars out of its old town in 1999. Today about 65 percent of trips in the centre are on foot, and the city kept growing.
Claim
Taking cars out of a town centre is a political choice that can be survived and can even bring residents in.
Story
Pontevedra, Galicia, began pedestrianising its old town in 1999. The speed limit in the centre was cut to 30 km/h in 2010 and 10 km/h in 2019. Wikipedia reports fossil-fuel CO2 emissions in the city centre down 67 percent since 1999 and about 65 percent of centre trips made on foot. The population rose from 74,942 in 2001 to 82,346 in 2011 and 83,316 in 2025.
Sources
- Pontevedra, Wikipedia (1999 start, 30 km/h 2010, 10 km/h 2019, minus 67 percent CO2, 65 percent on foot, population 74,942 / 82,346 / 83,316)
Check before posting
- Many sources claim zero road deaths for years. That is not verified here. Do not post it without a primary source.
- The page does not tie the policies to the mayor, Miguel Anxo Fernández Lores, in the part read.
- Population growth has other causes too. Do not say the pedestrian centre caused it.
- Needs a person-level story (the mayor, a shopkeeper).
Counterargument
Many people fear shops will fail without cars. The page gives no retail data either way.
Post angles
Facebook (Croatian)
- Pontevedra od 1999. izbacuje aute iz centra. Danas se oko 65 posto putovanja u središtu obavlja pješice, a emisije CO2 iz fosilnih goriva pale su za 67 posto. Grad nije umro, nego je narastao. Kako to izgleda kad se ulica vrati ljudima?
- Mnogi se boje da će trgovine propasti bez auta. Pontevedra to radi već 25 godina.
LinkedIn (English)
- Pontevedra: a 10 km/h speed limit in the centre, 67% less fossil CO2 since 1999, and the population still rose. A town that kept going in one direction long enough for people to adapt.
- Many people fear shops die without cars. This town has been doing it for 25 years.