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Portugal's Government Allows Bikes on Lisbon Metro and IC Trains
On September 18, Portuguese cycling advocacy organization and ECF member FCPUB handed out its annual National Mobility Award. But this year’s ceremony had something special to it: Sergio Silva Monteiro, Secretary of State for Transportation and Public Works, was in attendance and seized the opportunity to announce two important policy changes directed at cyclists.
Cyclists in Portugal’s capital Lisbon will be able to carry bicycles on the city’s metro trains at any time, said Mr Monteiro. This is a big change compared to the present state of affairs, where bikes were allowed only after 8 pm and on week-ends. Now, Metro de Lisboa, the administration running the metro network, will allow two bikes by carriage free of charge.
Rosa Félix of FCPUB says that pressure from cycling advocacy organizations helped contribute to the changes. “The change in opinion was fruit of much lobbying exercised over the past years towards people from Metro de Lisboa and the Portuguese government.”
Mr Monteiro's second announcement was yet another boost to multimodal transport. He said that the government has decided to equip the country-wide IC trains so that bicycles can travel on them free of charge as well. CP, the Portuguese rail company, is set to have all trains bike-ready by 2014.
Portuguese cycling advocacy is on the up
As these two new changes illustrate, cycling in Portugal has the wind in its sails. Just recently, the Portuguese government has adopted a new road code with many improvements for cyclists and pedestrians.
Bikes & trains in Europe
ECF has produced an overview of bicycle-carrying policies and best practices in different European countries that can be downloaded via this link.
FCPUB says that the new road code is a big step forward in order to make cycling safer and a better experience in Portugal and that cycling is becoming more and more popular in Portugal. The Bike Fridays organized by another Portuguese ECF member, MUBi, as well as the Bicycle Film Festival, Mobility Week, and Bike to Work Day all are all well-publicized events with thousands of people attending.
Moreover, several cities have recently drawn up bicycle mobility plans. One example is the southern city of Loulé, which presented its 10-year Cicloloulé strategy this September.
Carrying bikes on trains helps cycling
ECF policy officer Fabian Küster has been monitoring bicycle-carrying options in Europe for several years. He says that the announcement from Portugal goes in the right direction. “We think that allowing people to take their bikes with them on trains free of charge is the way to go,” he says. “More people cycling can best be achieved if we manage to integrate Public Transport and cycling.”
Consequently, making it easier to carry your bicycle on metro and inter-city trains therefore is a much-needed signal towards Portuguese cyclists and suggests the government wants to make it easier to use car-free transport options. "The Portuguese example is one to be copied elsewhere in Europe," says Fabian Küster.
Let the copying begin.
Cycling Events and Actions in Portugal
Santarém Bike Festival
18, 19 and 20th October
The Santarém Bike Festival is the biggest national bicycle event. It will be attended by Luís Gancho, Traffic division of the department of Public Security; Pedro Roque Oliveira, National Deputy and member of FPCUB; Pedro Portela, jurist and member of FPCUB.
FPCUB is preparing a information session on the New Highway Code, to explain the new rules for bicycle users.
On October 20, FPCUB is preparing the 6th Mega Tour Lisbon - Santarém.
1,5 m campaign
At the occasion of the new Highway Code, FPCUB produced some materials to alert car drivers to respect the distance to cyclists when overtaking.
Thousands of stickers and hundreds of t-shirt will be distributed on the occasion of the next FPCUB events to the participants.
About the Author
Karsten Marhold works as Communications Assistant at the European Cyclists’ Federation. He has a masters degree in European history and cultures and is a researcher in European Integration in Brussels. His interests focus on cycling as a sustainable form of mobility and the corresponding EU policies.
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