Livre's recommendation asking for "more safety for cyclists in Lisbon" approved

A recommendation of the Free party was approved, this Tuesday, November 11, in the Lisbon Municipal Assembly. It calls for 'More Safety for Cyclists in Lisbon! "Even in the face of all the investments in cycling infrastructure made by Lisbon City Council, the feeling of insecurity for those who use bicycles in the city of Lisbon is still a constant. This is a reality that urgently needs to change in the city of Lisbon, not only to prevent the recurrence of tragedies like the one that occurred in Campo Grande last July, but also to encourage and promote modes of soft mobility"reads the document put to the vote.

Livre leaves 10 recommendations to the Lisbon City Council:

1. Evaluate the status of the Cycling Network Expansion Plan and study the need to increase the cycling network provided for in the plan and update it according to the conclusions of this study.
2. Evaluate the safety and comfort conditions offered by existing cycle paths in the city and ensure that all cycle paths under construction and those to be built offer all the conditions for their users.
3. That the construction of the pop-up bike lanes that have been announced and have not yet been built be carried out, and that these bike lanes be segregated from sidewalks and roadways whenever possible.
4. To promote more traffic calming measures in more areas of the city, in order to allow safer cohabitation between motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.
5. To ensure that public bicycle-sharing systems are free of charge and that they are linked to the modal pass and the ticketing system for public transport.
6. To study the widening of sidewalks in the city and carry it out where it makes sense.
7. To promote road safety awareness campaigns, with an emphasis on the safety of pedestrians and cyclists.
8. That it increases and improves, within its possibilities and competencies, road surveillance in the city of Lisbon in order to ensure compliance with traffic regulations and the safety of all those who circulate in the city.

The recommendation was voted on by points, i.e. the different parties in the Municipal Assembly were able to express their vote on each point of the recommendation rather than as a whole. Points 2, 4, 6, 7 and 8 were approved unanimously; the remaining points were approved by a majority:

• PS, PCP, BE, PAN, PEV, MPT and independent MPs António Avelãs, Ana Gaspar, Eduardo Viana, Joana Alegre, José Alberto Franco, Miguel Graça, Patrícia Gonçalves and Teresa Craveiro agree with an evaluation of the current plan to expand the cycling network. PSD, CDS-PP, PPM and independent MPs Raul Santos and Rodrigo Mello Gonçalves abstained;
• PS, BE and PAN agree that the pop-up bike lane plan should be complied with and that it should run outside the sidewalks. PSD, CDS-PP, PEV, PPM and Rodrigo Mello Gonçalves disagree. PCP, MPT and Raul Santos abstained;
• PS, PSD, BE, PAN, PEV, MPT, António Avelãs, Ana Gaspar, Eduardo Viana, Joana Alegre, José Alberto Franco, Miguel Graça, Patrícia Gonçalves and Teresa Craveiro are in favor of making the GIRA free and linking it to public transport. CDS-PP, PCP, PPM, Raul Santos and Rodrigo Mello Gonçalves abstained.

On the Municipal Assembly's website, it is reported that independent MP Rui Pedro Costa Lopes "did not take part in the consideration and vote on this Recommendation as he was prevented from doing so".