Noise levels down in the city at night and during the day
Noise pollution in Barcelona has dropped by between five and six per cent compared to the figures from five years ago. The data comes from the new Barcelona Strategic Noise Map for the period 2022-2027, indicating that traffic continues to generate the noise which has the biggest impact on the population and that measures such as traffic-calming and lower vehicles speeds have helped towards the drop in noise levels.
Somebody on a bike in the centre of the Consell de Cent green street, with people strolling in the background. Daniel Bartolomé
During the day, traffic is the source of noise that has the biggest impact in the city. At night, in certain areas, while noise generated by the intensive use of public space is not the main source of noise, it is the source that causes the most inconvenience to people.
The Barcelona Strategic Noise Map determines the different sources that generate noise (traffic, rail traffic, industry and leisure activities), allowing for an overall analysis of people’s exposure to noise and offering a base for developing strategies and action plans in this sphere, which municipalities must renew every five years.
Signage painted on the road surface, prohibiting speeds over 30 km/h, with a taxi circulating. Clara Soler