It was on Twitter, in response to a cyclistthat the Lisbon City Council has advanced that "the implementation of the cycling network plan, announced in June 2020, is underway and a few more important axes will soon be realized". “From the original plan10 of the planned axes have already been executed".said a source from the municipality.
The original plan foresaw the completion of a series of bike paths by July and a few more by September, but many - including important axes such as Avenida de Roma, Avenida Liberdade or Avenida Lusíada - were left undone and the City Hall has said nothing about it. Many internet users have asked the municipality for an update, speculating that there may have been some backtracking or some substantial change to the plan.
"Without prejudice to CML's determination to implement all the announced routes, some sections have experienced delays that are mostly due to improved route options and public contracting deadlines"The response from the municipality reads.
"It is important to reinforce that the plan has never been suspended, and that is why several interventions are underway or will advance in the coming weeks, such as: Conde de Almoster Street, the connection to the Camping Park, Professor Lima Basto Street, Contra-Almirante Armando Ferraz Street, the conclusion of Almirante Reis Avenue, Pardal Monteiro Street and Eng. Ferreira Dias Street, among others. Avenida da Índia, Avenida de Roma and Avenida da Liberdade are in the final stages of design, which includes repaving the sides of the avenue. The public tender for Avenida Lusíada is also launched and the tender for Avenida Marechal Gomes da Costa is being launched."
The Chamber reinforces in its answer that "the expansion of the cycling network, enabling more and more people to use the bicycle for commuting, has become even more important in the context of the public health crisis we are experiencing". Recently we published here about the beginning of the Conde de Almoster Street intervention and other projects under study, namely the Lusíada and Marechal Gomes da Costa avenues. We also talked about of the bicycle path to the Camping Park and the intervention near Calçada de Carriche.
