Well, it is too early, really, to be certain but there’s a possibility that Milan’s Ecopass (the equivalent to London’s Congestion Charge) may work.

Yesterday was the start, for most people, of the 2008 working year and also the day the children went back to school. Add to that that the Milan Sales are on! So yesterday was the first real test for the new Ecopass. This is what I suspected (or dreaded) would happen:

a) traffic would be much heavier around the Ecopass zone, which, incidentally, is the way I travel to and from work and
b) more people would try to park just outside the zone, which, incidentally, is where we live.

The journey to work was about the same as usual, I would say. But the journey home in the evening was pure heaven. The traffic was probably about 60% lighter than I expected and reminded me of last week (before everyone returned to their normal routine). Now I should add that I am wary about this lasting. Maybe a lot of people took an extra day off? Maybe that was why it seemed normal in the morning (taking the kids to school) but quieter in the afternoon (not actually at work)?

However, for a moment, as I was driving back, I kinda hoped that this was the sign of things to come. And it took me 35 minutes to reach home (as opposed to the hour or so that it normally takes).

One thing that may hold off the cars (at least, for the moment) is the huge signs as you enter the Milan suburbs proper, that warn you of the Ecopass in the centre. However, my fear is that, once the whole thing has settled down in a couple of months, the Milanese will be back to their ‘trying to get as damned close as they can to wherever it is they’re going’ syndrome, taking the risk that parking in a residents parking zone won’t lead to a ticket.

I’ll let you know.

For those of you who came here looking for a map, you will find it here.

It is pdf format and not brilliant but gives the main street names that you would need to know.