EMEL will make available “soon” new stations of the GIRA network already installed in Lisbon – Current Affairs
“We expect to start activating the first stations in late January/early February. The solution delivery process will be more gradual, by handing over to the power company delivery.
The municipal company of Lisbon had to open a new public tender to find a new supplier: “The tender is already concluded and we already have a new electricity supplier”.
According to EMEL, “there are already about 50 new stations installed, namely in Baixa, Campo de Ourique, Belém, São Domingos de Benfica, Benfica, Carnide, Telheiras, which are currently in the process of installing an electricity meter, for further completion: communications link, testing, final”.
Regarding the expansion of the network, the municipal company has two contracts in progress for the installation of 130 new stations and is finalizing the award of a third contract for another 50 stations, making a total of 130 new GIRA stations.
Currently, EMEL has 102 active stations and “the total fleet of bicycles amounts to around 1,600”, allowing “an average of 850 bicycles daily, which corresponds to an average availability ratio of 0.5 bicycles per dock (or i.e. one bike available for every two active docks).
At the moment, the company has consolidated as 80 new locations of stations related to the two contracts in execution, being as locations of the third contract (not yet) in the licensing phase in the Municipality of Lisbon.
“The process of acquiring new bicycles is in the replanning phase, due to the current contingencies that have led to a worldwide assembly of parts and components”, indicated EMEL.
Asked about the future of the cycling network in Lisbon, including the Avenida Almirante Reis bike path, the municipal company sent the answer to the municipality.
In the municipal elections of September 2021, the then candidate and now mayor of Lisbon, Carlos Moedas (PSD), committing the campaign to redesign the city’s cycling network “with a focus on safety, comfort and functionality for cyclists” and pedestrians, eliminating bike lanes with problems, such as Almirante Reis, and designing viable alternatives”.
In December, the councilor for Urbanism, Joana Almeida (independently elected by the coalition “Novos Tempos” PSD/CDS-PP/MPT/PPM/Aliança), said that the executive is still studying alternatives on the future of the bicycle path on Avenida Almirante Reis, ensuring that the decision-making process will count on the participation of citizens.
The councilor for Mobility Planning, Ângelo Pereira (PSD), also indicated that “an urbanism area of the council, through the public space department, and the municipal mobility management and EMEL are studying solutions and solutions, obviously, will be made available for public discussion, in order to have the ‘feedback’ of the initiatives in the Almirante Reis area”.
After winning the September 2021 municipal elections at the head of the “Novos Tempos” coalition (PSD/CDS-PP/MPT/PPM/Aliança), Carlos Moedas (PSD) governs the municipality of Lisbon, but without absolute.
In the current mandatory (2021-2025), the executive is composed of seven elected by the “Novos Tempos” coalition (three from the PSD, two from the CDS-PP and two independents), who are the only ones with assigned roles.
There are also seven members elected by the “Mais Lisboa” coalition (five from PS, one from Livre and one independent), two from the PCP/PEV coalition (both from the PCP) and one elected by BE.