Energiaklub, Extinction Rebellion, Fridays for Future Hungary, Greenpeace Hungary and the Clean Air Action Group urge that after the renovation of the Chain Bridge (Lánchíd), only public transport vehicles, taxis, bicycles and pedestrians should be allowed to use the bridge – as an important step towards fulfilling Budapest’s climate protection commitment.

The Budapest City Council unanimously adopted the Budapest Climate Strategy, which states that the city should reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40 percent by 2030. This can only be achieved if motor vehicle traffic is significantly reduced, as transport is responsible for 27 percent of emissions.

During the years of renovation of the Chain Bridge, it was closed to traffic, and thus, many of the capital’s road users have become accustomed to using routes that avoid the bridge, so there would be little change in motorists’ life, if the Chain Bridge were not opened to motorised traffic. This move also supports the sustainability objectives and encourages the use of alternative transport options such as cycling and public transport.

“The traffic calming on the Chain Bridge is important because it sends out a message that the urban transport system needs to be radically transformed. We need to cut back on private car use and give much more space to environmentally friendly modes of transport than is currently the case,” said András Lukács, President of the Clean Air Action Group.

“The number of cars needs to be reduced not only to reduce carbon emissions. We need to free up as much space as possible, which is now taken up by cars, so that we can plant trees and other vegetation in their place. In this way we can protect the health and increase the well-being of many people, especially during the increasing summer heat waves,” added Zsófia Pej, climate adaptation expert at the Energy Club.

“There is no sustainable transport without reducing car traffic. The number of cars on the road in Budapest is increasing by around 30,000 every year. Even if we replace all cars with electric ones, transport will still not be climate-friendly and sustainable – and we haven't even mentioned the livable city aspect. It is essential that more people switch from cars to public transport and bicycles, as set out in the Budapest Mobility Plan. To achieve this, public transport and cycling need to be a convenient alternative for as many people as possible. This would be greatly facilitated by the traffic calming of the Chain Bridge”, said Kinga Somlói, activist of Fridays for Future.