Vigo's Low Emission Zones Approved, Affecting Over 62,000 Vehicles

Vigo's city council has formally approved an ordinance establishing four low‑emission zones (ZBE) – Centro, Plaza de Portugal, O Calvario and Bouzas. The zones cover about 67.18 hectares (0.6% of the municipality) and will become operational within days after publication in the provincial gazette. In the first two‑year phase, the regulation will prohibit entry to vehicles that lack an environmental label, affecting roughly 62,000 owners according to the traffic authority's database.

The ordinance sets a fine of up to €200 for unauthorized entry, but for the first twelve months violations will be recorded without immediate payment to raise awareness. A wide list of exemptions applies, including residents and workers with permits, vehicles with reduced‑mobility cards, public‑service vehicles (police, fire, ambulance), motorcycles and scooters between 07:00‑22:00, taxis, buses, and approved commercial vehicles.

Politically, the measure passed solely with the votes of the Socialist Party (PSOE); the opposition People's Party (PP) and Galician Nationalist Bloc (BNG) voted against it. PSOE councilor Carlos López Font called the rule a legal obligation, while PP councilor Miguel Martín accused Mayor Abel Caballero of misleading the public about fines. BNG spokesperson Xabier Pérez Igrexas warned that the zones would merely shift traffic rather than cut emissions.