The last four GIRA stations to open in the University City became operational on Tuesday. This brings to 88 the number of stations in Lisbon's public bike-sharing system. This is the first time in more than a year that new GIRA stations have been opened, after two others were made available in 2020, also at the University Cityone next to the Rectory and the other next to the Old Canteen.
The four stations now operational in Cidade Universitária should have been operational last April, along with three others on the waterfrontThis will enable a total network of 91 stations to be put into operation. EMEL, which manages Lisbon's public bike-sharing system, plans to open the remaining three in June.
This set of seven stations is part of a lot that was installed a long time ago in the city and never opened, given the setbacks in the number of bicycles available on EMEL's side - a situation that is now beginning to be resolved. be overcome. "The internalization of the entire operation, which happened less than a year ago, allowed us to have a sufficient density of bicycles in the network, so that it made sense to open these stations, without harming other areas of the city"explained a company source to Lisboa Para Pessoas.
The new stations are opposite the Faculties of Dentistry, Law and Lettersand near the Torre do Tombo. According to EMEL in statementthat these new GIRA points "serve precisely the purpose of Lisbon moving more and more towards a city of 15 minutes, making it easier to travel by bicycle in an urban environment".
The GIRA network is growing in parallel in terms of the number of bicycles. They are gradually being added to the system 730 new bicycles and a public tender is underway for the purchase of a further 1,700-2,000 units. Returning to the stations, in recent months a batch of 30 new stations have been installed in Lumiar, Olivais and Almirante ReisIn addition to the 80 additional stations planned by the end of the year, another 50 stations will be purchased, as Público reported in April.
In total, if everything goes according to plan, GIRA will have almost 3,000 new bicycles this year - some of which will be to replace units that have already reached the end of their life - and 160 new stations (in addition to the 91 already installed around the city).
Updated on 27/05/2021: added comments from EMEL.
