Over the years, we have seen some of the main cities in the country, such as Lisbon, Porto, Évora and Faro, gain public use bicycles and scooters from various operators. Uber, Bolt, Lime, Hive and Jump are some of those that are out there, not always in the best places and positions (that is, lying on the ground, restricting the passage of people without mobility), or a safe way to circulate.

Urban mobility using individual bicycles or shared use transport, particularly in Lisbon, has been much debated in recent weeks due to the situation on Avenida Almirante Reis, for which there was a proposal to change the bicycle lane so that it became bidirectional, with a second lane for cars in the ascending direction and the entire cycle path in the descending direction — a proposal that, as it was widely contested, was withdrawn by the Mayor of Lisbon, Carlos Moedas (PSD), as reported by the newspaper “Public” in early June.

On this proposal, the Associação pela Mobilidade Urbana em Bicicleta (MUBi), which was present at the meetings of the parish council of Arroios on the subject, leaves an opinion that focuses on the most important: on bike paths. “Almirante Reis is an important axis for the city and even for the metropolitan area, but it is still a small detail in what really matters to debate about the city of Lisbon — how to increase the quality and safety of public space for everyone without exception”, refers to MAGG.

Even so, a destination for individual motorized transport, and not recovering road capacity on this axis”, he suggests.

But urban mobility is not limited to an avenue, nor to bicycles. They are also scooters that go side by side like car lanes, whose simultaneous circulation is far from perfect.

“There is still a lot of work to be done by the Portuguese government at the national level to implement the National Strategy for Cyclable Active Mobility (ENMAC)”, says a MUBi. Therefore, they are often associated with necessary changes from automobiles to uncoordinated active modes, and without being, those that continue to be built on local bike lanes. of sidewalks, dangerous at intersections, poorly signposted or in flagrant conflict with other street users”, warns the association.

Portugal is not yet ready for urban mobility by bicycle alternatives, at least when compared to other countries.

Portugal vs. Europe

The idea we have of Amsterdam, capital of the Netherlands, is that it is a city dominated by bicycles, which are as respected as cars. It’s the same here and how many times have we walked in the middle of a bike lane (whoever has never done it) or stopped a bike route almost without ringing the bell to drive away pedestrians?

In Amsterdam or even in Paris, the way of cycling is different: there are no bike paths.

“Contrary to what a tourist can see — he essentially notes what is different — the vast majority of roads in Amsterdam or Paris do not have cycles. reduction in the speed of motor vehicles (main objective neighborhoods and more central areas)”, explains the Association for Urban Mobility in Bicycles.

In this way, mobility in these cities, both 100% as an example to serve by bicycle to Portugal, lacks for greater construction, above all, measures on cars and also an awareness of society as good cycling practices. “it is urgent to control the use of private cars (with the reduction of parking being the most effective way), reduce speed in urban areas to 30 km/h 8 and redistribute public space more equitably”, refers to MUBi .

Then it is essential to correct the most common mistakes made by citizens. Some are gathered in the project of the association called bike friend — which educates and one of them advised newcomers to ride a bike — and one of them advised by cities and the bike safely — and one of them advised on the right as possible, something that is no longer mandatory by law.

“Whoever pedals must ‘take the lane’ in an assertive and visible way. They can only be able to prevent passing vehicles, very close to the bicycle area”, issue a MUBi.

Another good practice is to park shared vehicles correctly, something that often does not happen, so a document is already being developed for regular parking of bicycles and scooters in cities. The idea is to enter into measures according to the locations where they can come into force in 2223, the CNN Portugal.

Not everything is bad and it can get better.

Yes, there are poorly constructed bike paths. Yes, there are scooters on the floor. Yes, you have to be careful and know how to ride a bike in cities. And yes, ways to repair, above all, or have the opportunity to trot on riding a bike.

One of them is not to emit carbon into the atmosphere, as happens when we travel by car or public transport.

that there is also scope to build big cycles and at the same time authorize the work to be even greater in the construction of parking in the centers of the cities, it is certain ‘worse than the sonnet'”, says MUBi, it pays if more and more people arrest and make them see what is best for cities.

And those who save the environment, save their wallets: one of the five reasons also presented by the association for everyone not to move around by bicycle in their day-to-day tasks. Another, and first, is the fact that it’s a quick method to get to all of them, especially if it’s electric.

Still not believed? We have gathered by points five reasons given by MUBi to start riding as soon as possible.

1. The bike is fast: “How convenient is the fastest door-to-door mode of transport for distances up to 5 electric kilometers in urban areas.

2. It’s practical. “Because it is much easier to park, although the municipalities still have to work hard to offer safe parking for bicycles”;

3. It’s economical. “If on weekdays we cycle 10 kilometers (per kilometer, 5 kilometers between home and work) instead of using the car, at the end of the month, we will save €40 just in each direction, double what if a family can have one less car, it will save 4 thousand euros per year, on average, which it can use for holidays, culture, education of children, or whatever it considers appropriate”;

4. It’s healthy. Cycling, or walking, is healthy. According to the World Health Organization, cycling for 20 minutes to reduce the risk of mortality by at least 10%; commuting in active modes is associated with about a 10% reduction in the risk of cardiovascular disease and a 30% reduction in the risk of type 2 diabetes; and cancer-related mortality is 30% lower among those who use bicycles for commuting”;

5. It’s fun. “Because someone can say ‘hello’ to, easily access local shops, or take a short detour to pass that park we love so much.”