Polluting scooters banned from Amsterdam environmental zone next year

From January 1st, scooters made in or before 2010 will no longer be allowed in the environmental zone in Amsterdam city center. The municipality installed scooter registration checkers in six locations in the city, which will tell scooter drivers whether they will be allowed into the environmental zone next year.

These registration checkers will be in place until December 27th. Scooter drivers can also check their registration number on the municipality's website. The environmental zone for scooters is one of the measures Amsterdam is implementing to reduce emissions in the city.

"We are doing everything we can to make the air in Amsterdam cleaner", sustainability alderman Abduleheb Choho said in a press release. "That includes unpleasant measures, such as an environmental zone. By carefully warning everyone with a too dirty scooter well in advance, we ensure that the introduction of this environmental zone goes as reasonably as possible."

The registration checkers are installed on Michiel de Ruijterkade, Stadshouderkade, Sarphatistraat, Hoofddorpweg, Haarlemmerweg, and Weteringschans. If a scooter driver passes one of these checkers, a sign will go up saying whether or not they're allowed in the environmental zone.

The municipality also sent letters to 55 thousand scooter owners in and around Amsterdam to inform them about the implementation of the environmental zone. Between January 1st and May, old scooter drivers who enter the environmental zone, will receive a warning. After that they can face a fine of 90 euros.