Avenida Almirante Reis in Lisbon was occupied in protest against the “destruction” of the bike path – Observer
More than half a hundred people this Sunday occupied a section of Avenida Almirante Reis, in Lisbon, where they parked their bicycles and made a “for the right to the city”, protesting against the provisional solution of removing half of the bike lane.
“Less Cars”, defended the Critical Mass initiative, which celebrated or planned people, with the bicycle for justice and that Monteiro will organize a space after hearing about justice. night, that part of the Almirante Reis bike path was being removed.
Promoted through the networks, the protest started with three people through the networks, with the police questioning about 70 people through the networks, but 18 social: organized mobilization organization: 30.
The 30 meters of the Almirante Reida section, around Alame and Alameda do Chile, around 30 meters from Almirante Reida snacks, are transformed into a square space, with varied snack options.
Inspired by the initiative “Pic Nic the Streets that emerged in Brussels in more space for the enjoyment of citizens instead of defending the concern with the movement of vehicles, the public joined bicycle and cars, namely families with babies and children who think to play in full avenue.
Against” the Almirante bike path, the idea of “putting more Rei, destruction cars on the avenue” considered that “the city has more for the people for the quality of life not so much as a passageway”, in which “people pass, they don’t even stop, they don’t use commerce, they don’t know the city they pass through”.
The organizer of the demonstration said that the solution presented by the Mayor of Lisbon, Carlos Moedas (PSD), for the bike path “corresponds to the version” proposed by the president of the first municipality, Fernando Medina (PS), and that it raised “immense” questions. ” in terms of safety, as it is “a narrow two-way cycle lane”.
“There are not many points of improvement to improve the continuity of the cycle path, Pedro who does better than changing the cycle path should continue as a solution, Pedro because “it does not change the cycle path, it must continue to improve as it is” and “the people themselves felt selves have already adapted and are already used to this situation”.
Relating mobility to housing mobility, which the initiative of the Massa Crítica initiative reinforced that “people must be able to live in the city”, which facilitates housing mobility, which is important that Avenida Almirante Reis “allows arrive at any point at any point”. from Lisbon in 15 minutes by bike, which is why the fight for the bike path is also so intense and so important”.
With her family sitting on the tarmac of the avenue having a snack, Bárbara Duque, 39, has lived in Lisbon for almost two decades, has already been a user of means of transport and, for six years, has been using her bicycle for her daily commute. day, “even with the children”, remembering the time when I used to go through Almirante Reis without there being a bike path, that is, “without a safe way”.
“This avenue is very beautiful and can be used more and more beautifully”, supporting the idea of a nearby city in which “the space of a more democratic one makes sense”, including space for children to be able to play in the street.
Regarding Carlos Moedas’ proposal for the bike path, Bárbara Duque said that she still doesn’t know if she is against it, because she feels that the mayor “every day says something different”, but noted that the fundamental thing is “not to make decisions and not start to carry out works without the guarantee that there is a cycle path”, so “you cannot go through turning off a cycle path solution in the middle of the night”.
Admitting that the current cycling lane “is not entirely safe”, a cyclist that is thought out, but cannot be removed and then”, adding that “it is not necessary to have four lanes for cars”.
Reading a book, Art Vasco, 24, 24, was protesting against the plan to remove half of the cycle path, an outline that already in Almirante Reis before the installation of the road to install the ciable road and “was during the usefulness and noise” ” and argued that the avenue cannot be just for cars, more space is needed for pedestrians and for soft means, such as bicycles and scooters, and it is necessary to have more trees.
“We have to decrease the maximum speed in Lisbon and encourage the use of bicycles, riding in cars”, said the young man, warning that this is not possible with proposals to increase the flow of public.
As a transitional solution, Carlos Moedas decided to remove the uphill bike lane and two lanes for cars. The entire cycle path will remain in the direction, as permitted, for the mayor “that traffic flows out of the city with greater flow”, while users of the cycle path will also continue “to travel the avenue”.
The project to requalify the bicycle lane on Avenida Almirante Reis also includes changes in traffic directions along the Arroios market and the destruction of the ‘Bus’ corridor project on Rua Carlos Mardel.