hi, I'm Nadia from Italy. I'd like to know an important information about the permit for circulation by car in the center of Madrid. Next month I'll come to Madrid by car and I'll stay there for two months with my boyfriend and my little dog I'm obliged to come by car, 'cause I've so many difficulties to transport the dog by plane. But now I've a doubt: our car is by 1999, and in Italy a new law doesn't permit to circulate in the big city to prevent smog. What a bullshit (sorry)!! Here there are zone called ZTL (zona traffico limitato=limited trafic zone) in the center of the city. I've tried to find this information in internet, but no answer is there or - better - I'm not able to find it. Anyway, could you inform me about this problem please? Thank you all in advance.
thank you so much EnglishPilot. I'm not surprise about this. Spain is better than Italy in this too!!! Italian law considers over-age also an 2005 car; so if you wanna go in a big city you have to change your car every year! That's wonderful idea! That's wonderful nation! That's wonderful government!
Hi Jer, in Italy everything (law) changes so fast! italian people love risks and when you drive an old car you risk a very expensive sanction and a block off! at this time there is a little bit confusion about this new law. I lived in rome (trastevere) till last month and I used only a scooter. Tomorrow there will be a total block in almost all the north of Italy.
The problem for my dog is: I contact Easyjet 'cause it's cheap! no dog on the plane! Now I'm not in Rome. Alitalia accepts my little dog (yorkshire) but the flight tickets for all of us are really too expensive! Lufthansa accepts too, but there is no direct flight and the tickets are too expensive! No other company accepts the dog on the plane (only like a stock)! It's a shame!
when i mentioned this thread to my wife, she said that spain is also planning on implementing these types of traffic regulations in the future to reduce air pollution.
they do things VERY slowly here so you will be fine for your trip.
Prevention is always a good idea, but I thing that the most important thing is to be coherent! Italian laws (and government planning too) are incoherent: for instance, they made traffic limited zones and they don't planning for renevable energy! we have sunlight 365 days in a year, but we have no solar panels (being honest not too much), we don't develop photovoltaic energy, wind power and so on. this is the reason for I believe traffic limited zones are only bullshit! Moreover, Municipalities release dispensations to enter in these limited zones for so many different reasons to some different people (residents, dealers, salesmen, doctors, policemen, politicians... thousands of persons with thousand of cars) Is this the right way to reduce air pollution?
Parking and driving in the city is a real nightmare, I avoid it as much as a possible. If you staying in the city center have you thought about where you will park?
I've flown with a small dog for many years and you have two alternatives. One is to put the dog in a crate and put him in the hold or buy a small pet carry on and bring him in the cabin. If you fly with a regular airline it won't be a problem as long as the dog is less than 5 kilos. You will also have to pay around 50 euros.
formerly timhortonsman
Posts: 382 | Location: Tres Cantos | Registered: 29 June 2006
step by step. I'll stay in Madrid near plaza Major. At this time I don't know about parking; as I wrote, I'm obliged to come by car. I have a regular pet carry and 5 years ago I've flown in the cabin with it. Today is a problem. Peggy (my little yorkshire) is less than 5 kilos. Easyjet ticket for two persons: 60 euros but no dog! Alitalia for one way ticket more or less 600 euros/person more the ticket for the dog. the same for Lufthansa. What you'd do in my place?
I remember when I lived in Milan a few years ago and the local authority had this scheme to reduce smog in the centre of Milan, on days when the weather was particularly bad only cars with Lombardy number plates ending in either odd or even numbers (depending on what they chose) could enter the city centre.
Didn't really work though as most Milanese bought 2 cars, one with a number plate ending in an odd number and the other with a number plate ending in a even number
a new idea has come! Now they don't control plates, they control: euro0, euro1, euro2, euro3, euro4 and euro5! euro1= 1993-1997 euro2= 1997-2001 euro3= 2001-2006 euro4= new car euro5= the future! if you don't have catalyst, you are stopped!
there is also a bit of a trick we know to park just a 10 minute walk from where we live in a few areas that there is ALWAYS space.
i am NOT gonna put it on this public forum but if you pm me i can tell you.
saludos, jer...
What! You don't want the world to know
I have to add I'm a bit shocked that she'd drive here the traffic must be a nightmare (though not as bad as the A6) Recoletos to Tres Cantos by renfe 30 mins. Actually even better move out here 5 mins to work no traffic hassles or smog in the summer. I'm sure she's told you but I think Tres Cantos is one of the nicests areas around Madrid. For me the best part of living here is the view of the mountians. In that way we really lucked out we were just about to sign the lease on a place with a nice view of the parking lot when this place came available, 7 floor clear line of sight to mountians, on a clear night we see the sun set, sigh. Country living, nows that's the life Cue: Green Acres music
Rob
formerly timhortonsman
Posts: 382 | Location: Tres Cantos | Registered: 29 June 2006
I have to add I'm a bit shocked that she'd drive here the traffic must be a nightmare
not sure what you mean? normally it takes her 30-45 minutes to get to work. if it is raining or snowing, it can be more like 2 hours but that is not the norm.
quote:
Actually even better move out here 5 mins to work no traffic hassles or smog in the summer.
ummmmmm... no culture, night life, etc... either
i think you missed the part where i said we live IN the plaza mayor.
who in their right mind would move from madrid de los austrias to tres cantos?
quote:
I'm sure she's told you but I think Tres Cantos is one of the nicests areas around Madrid.
nope, never crossed her mind. depressing boring suburbia has come off her lips though
if i wanted that life, i would have stayed on long island
sorry man, i grew up between manhattan and long island and since i have moved to madrid i'm a true city boy, no more burbs for me.
- rent or buy a cell phone from me for your stay in spain, more info at 
- already have a cell phone, get a spanish SIM card for it at 
but if you pm me i can tell you.
