Beirut

Low emission zone - as if! The people of Beirut could probably write a book about such half-hearted anti-pollution measures. The city does not make do as in Frankfurt with coloured badges and a zone that only covers half of the municipal area. With regard to automobile emissions, Beirut has, figuratively at least, cleared the air. Diesel vehicles are no longer allowed in, whether with or without particle filters.

Germany’s banking metropolis of Frankfurt lags far behind. The so-called low emission zone has been in force there since 1 October. The city within the beltway is only accessible to vehicles with low emissions. The city council defined four pollutant groups, of which however only the first category – older cars without catalytic converters, which make up only about five percent of the total – is affected by the ban.

In addition, the low emission zone does not apply to large parts of the city, which is the reason that independent environmentalist groups and the opposition in the city parliament are critical of the measure. Nonetheless, the city government hopes that the low emission zone will decisively reduce the concentration of particulates in the air. The limiting values set down by the European Union have been exceeded a number of times.

So, while in Frankfurt – at least newer – diesel cars continue to drive downtown, you only see – and smell – petrol engines in Beirut. Even under the bonnet of the most rickety taxi – and there are scores of them – hums an Otto engine. The only exceptions are diesel engines in trucks. It is strange though that in spite of this radical cure – to put it mildly – the air in Lebanon’s city of millions does not quite reach the best level. One might even say that between some of the street canyons there’s a pretty strong fug.

It undoubtedly originates from the exhaust pipes. Although many of the cars appear very new, most of them seem to have forgotten to install a catalytic converter. When these exhaust fumes combine with the sometimes extremely humid air, it results in a blend that does not exactly please the nose.

Admittedly, the air in Frankfurt isn’t the very best either. In midsummer, the humidity in the cauldron of the Rhine-Main plain could almost compete with Beirut. But, whatever reaches your nose here is only catalytically filtered exhaust fumes. They may be cleaner, but don’t necessarily smell any better.

Better air quality was also the reason for banning diesel cars in Beirut. If they let those stinkers drive around in the city, as well, the thick air would certainly exceed the tolerance level. There is really no alternative to cars as means of transportation in Beirut. There are busses, yet they only travel to destinations outside the city. Urban public transport – trams, underground railways or busses – doesn’t exist. And you practically never see any bicycles.

The only means of transport, then, are your own car or the countless taxis. No one knows exactly how many there are. Nothing tops the variety available: from new cars to vehicles virtually ready for the scrap heap, it’s all here. A journey to Beirut would be worthwhile for Germany’s politicians who advocate free competition and also want to deregulate taxi licenses. Here, free competition has ensured that no one can speak of uniform quality standards. From the latest model taxis to the most rickety jalopies, it’s all here. There is neither a uniform taxi colour nor a municipally fixed fee system.

It seems only two things are really important in Beirut’s road traffic: a car with a petrol engine and a working horn.