London and the benefits of Ulez:today 4 out of 10 children walk to school

One year after the introduction of Ulez, the enormous restricted traffic restricted traffic zone, London has achieved its objectives.“Walking prevents obesity” explains expert Cristina Xiao.

In the movie 28 days later the protagonist Jim (Cillian Murphy) awakens from a coma in a deserted London and begins wandering the empty streets, without cars.We are talking about a post apocalyptic film, clearly, but something not too different (this time with positive implications)  is happening in the English capital where, from 2023, came into force onUltra Low Emission Zone (Ulez), the limited traffic zone to reduce pollution from cars.An initiative that he had initially created protests and even sabotage.

A study published byInternational Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity demonstrated that the introduction of ultra low emission zone brought benefits.In addition to the improvement of air quality the researchers found that in London on average 4 out of 10 children they started going to school on foot and not by car.Since it was introduced clean air zones, In fact, the number of cars circulating in the English capital has decreased, also thanks to the actions implemented, such as the application of a daily entry fee equal to 15 euros for non-electric and high-emission cars.

The positive impact on children's health

The study, conducted by researchers fromCambridge University and of Queen Mary university, had the objective of evaluating the impact on the health of children between 6 and 9 years old after the introduction oflow emission area over the years.The objective was initially to evaluate the impact on the lungs but thanks to surveys carried out over time, scientists have also come to obtain conclusions on changes in lifestyle.The results began to be seen immediately, so much so that a few months after the entry into force of the new area two out of five students had already switched from passive ways of going to school (in the car with their parents) to active ways such as walking or ride a bicycle.

“Physical activity in children is vital to prevent obesity,” he explained in the online magazine Grist Christina Xiao, an epidemiologist at the University of Cambridge, “there is evidence to show that it prevents weight gain and brings benefits in terms of physical development and mental health of children,” underlined Xiao.

Limited traffic zones:cases around the world

In Europe there are more 300 cases of low emission areas also called Low emission zones.The countries in which they are most widespread are Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.These are urban areas in which traffic bans are implemented aimed above all at reducing the number of cars in circulation, especially older or more polluting vehicles, such as diesels, or in any case those which do not comply with the European objectives of traffic regulation and reduction of air pollution, as well as greenhouse gas emissions.

The introduction of low-emission areas responds to the need to address an increase in pollution in large cities that has grown exponentially in recent years.According to the European Council, in fact, in 2021 97 percent of people living in urban areas were exposed to a level of air pollution higher than the guidelines of theWorld Health Organization.In addition to this, it has been estimated that poor air quality causes more 300 thousand deaths every year in Europe.