Urban Europe looks to future without cars: Aachen: Carbon monoxide levels cut by 40%

Buses can be made popular, even in a car-dominated society, as the people of Aachen, a medieval town in Germany, have shown.

A network of bus lanes through the city centre was created out of the old tram lines and traffic lights were adjusted to give priority to buses. Fares were kept low with a special card allowing the holder unlimited bus use for a month being sold for 54DM ( pounds 22). It is transferrable which means different members of the same household can use it at different times.

A family card allowing five people to use the bus service for a day is sold for 6DM ( pounds 2.40).

Every year since the late 1980s, new bus routes have been introduced annually when the timetable is changed. The result of all these measures has been an increase in bus use from 36 million passenger journeys in 1987 to 55 million in 1992.

The bus has been only part of what is probably the most comprehensive local transport policy to reduce car use in Europe. A paper by Regina Poth, the head of local traffic planning, says that even though the town is hilly and rainy, with little tradition of bicyle use, there has been a recent increase in use and schemes such as 'bike and ride' are being introduced at bus stops.

The town centre has been closed to traffic which - contrary to local retailers' fears - has not reduced the number of visitors and therefore turnover has barely changed.

Traffic in the central area is now at 15 per cent of its former level. The effect on the environment has been immediate, with nitric oxide down 50 per cent, carbon monoxide down 40 per cent and benzene by more than 50 per cent.

Given these statistics, it is not surprising that, despite initial concern, the scheme has proved popular with more than three quarters of local people supporting it.

(Photograph omitted)