It’s not fashion week in Milan, so the chatter on the street is all about transport. Photo by William Butler Yeats

Best known for haute couture and hot wheels, the northern Italian city of Milan has followed the lead of London, Stockholm and Singapore (and maybe New York) by instituting a congestion charge on cars entering the downtown area. According to the BBC, all cars – except electric and hybrid vehicles – will be charged when they pass through one of the 43 electric gates that ring the perimeter of the city. There will be a steep fine for anyone who refuses to pay: 70 euros.

Letizia Moratti, the mayor, predicts a “30% cut in pollution levels and a 10% reduction in traffic.” Revenue generated from the fees will be used to cycled paths, mass transportation, and clean burning vehicles.