意大利米兰污染严重禁车十小时

因为空气污染严重，意大利北部城市米兰政府决定，除公共汽车外，9日当天8点至18点禁止其它一切机动车上路行驶，预计将有12万机动车受到影响。卫星图像显示，米兰是欧洲空气质量最差的城市之一。市政当局2007年试推禁令，规定每立方米空气中污染物连续12天超过50毫克时，禁止机动车上道。米兰上次实行禁车令是在2月。不过，不少环保主义者认为，禁车不是根本之道，政府应加强公共交通建设，鼓励大家乘坐公共交通工具出行。

The northern Italian city of Milan banned all traffic from its streets for 10 hours on Sunday in an attempt to reduce smog.

The measure, first imposed on a trial basis in 2007, is triggered whenever pollution exceeds the statutory limit for 12 consecutive days.

Satellite imagery shows Milan to be one of the most polluted cities in Europe.

An estimated 120,000 vehicles will be affected by the move, according to the Corriere della Sera newspaper.

The most polluting vehicles have been banned from driving through the city centre since Thursday.

But on Sunday, there was no traffic between 0800 and 1800 local time (06:00-16:00 GMT).

The ban is imposed when pollution exceeds 50 micrograms of particulates per cubic metre of air over 12 days. The last time the full ban was in force was in February.

The move is not popular with all environmentalists, who argue that the city's public transport system should be improved to discourage people from using their cars.

Local Green Party councillor Enrico Fedrighini said cars with three or four people inside should be offered free parking, for example.

"One or two car-free Sundays each month won't do anything to tackle the smog crisis," he told Corriere della Sera.

Public transport was to be bolstered during the day, with an extra metro trains and buses operating.