Opinion piece.
"We are citizens who have actively participated in these three public sessions, many of us representing Civil Society Associations, who have listened and expressed their opinions on the challenges of this avenue for all its users."
Mr. Mayor of Lisbon, Carlos Moedas.
Since March 31, the people of Lisbon have been publicly aware of the solution presented by the Lisbon City Council for Avenida Almirante Reis. This solution involves placing a bi-directional cycle lane on the downhill side of the avenue, and returning it to having two lanes of traffic on the uphill side.
The Executive presented this solution as being "for everyone" and "appeasing", and also as the emerging conclusion of the three previous public discussion sessions, in which several residents, local associations and traders took part.
However, this is not at all the conclusion that can be drawn from what was said and defended by the majority of residents at the public sessions of February 25th and 28th, e March 23, 2022.
We are citizens who have actively participated in these three public sessions, many of us in representation of civil society associationsThese were the people who listened and expressed their opinions on the challenges of this avenue for all its users, both in person and subsequently by sending written and duly substantiated contributions to the Executive.
Having been there, we know what was said at these sessions, as will certainly be recorded in the minutes of these meetings. What was defended by most of the registered participants who took the floor was that:
- The avenue needs less car traffic, to the benefit of pedestrians, public transport and other forms of mobility;
- The Avenue has too much noise and air pollution;
- The avenue needs more pedestrian space and safer crossing zones;
- The avenue needs more shade trees and better lighting;
- The avenue needs a better cycle path, safer for cycling and accessible to users of all ages;
- Considering the profile and width of the avenue (25 meters), and so that it can effectively serve the circulation of ambulances, Carris buses, pedestrians, cyclists and cars, consideration should be given to removing parking not reserved for loading and unloading;
- Participants in those public sessions never argued that the avenue needed more lanes to "drain" car traffic. This proposal, put forward by the Mayor's Public Space Advisor, was in fact widely contested by most of the residents present.
It is therefore not possible to say that the solution presented is the result of a genuine and well-developed participatory process, nor that, as has been widely proclaimed by the CML Executive, "this is what we heard from the people".
Given that the Mayor of Lisbon's interpretation of the public participation sessions does not correspond to the reality that the signatories witnessed on site, nor do they defend - as they have had the opportunity to express publicly - we hereby clarify the conclusions drawn from the public discussion sessions on the future of Avenida Almirante Reis, and reinforce the positions we defend.
The solution presented at the last public participation session was commented on and widely criticized in the public speeches that followed. However video of the President presenting the solution released the following weekThe solution presented is exactly the same as that presented at the public session, and does not reflect the content of the proposals and points of view expressed at the sessions, nor does it make any compromise or concession in the face of the constructive criticism that has been pointed out.
We reiterate what was communicated during the public participation sessions: the alteration of the bike lane on Avenida Almirante Reis proposed by this Executive seriously worsens the safety of bicycle users and the functionality of the bike lane, and is a significantly worse and less coherent alternative to the bike lane that currently exists, which will result in discouraging its use.
This proposal had already been contemplated in the previous Executive's initial version for the creation of a cycle path on the Avenida, but it was never implemented due to its operational and safety problems. Now, incomprehensibly, it is being advocated to change the cycle path to a solution that is less suitable for more sustainable modes, more harmful to the environment, less effective for emergency vehicles, more dangerous for everyone, and strongly contested by citizens and local associations, through reasoned opinions that the Executive seems to devalue.
"'The Solution' is not a solution, it's a way of doubling road capacity"as Patrícia Melo, a researcher at REM/UEC, said in one of her interventions in the context of public participation.
The signatories of this joint open letter reiterate the dominant position of the public sessions. In order not to implement yet another provisional version, which we believe will do nothing to improve the lives of the people who use the Avenida, we suggest that CML move forward, without delay, with an in-depth and technically supported discussion on the future version of Avenida Almirante Reis and Rua da Palma - as initially proposed in the "Open Letter: Almirante Reis, a green line" (15/10/2021) - a process to which we have always been willing, and will continue to be willing, to contribute.
Lisbon, April 27th, 2022
They subscribe:
António Almeida ∙ Beatriz Moriano ∙ Bernardo Vidal ∙ Bret Adams ∙ Carlos Sacramento ∙ Francisco Costa ∙ Francisco Lino ∙ Giulia Gallorini ∙ Gonçalo Peres ∙ Herculano Rebordão ∙ Inês Sanches ∙ João Almeida ∙ João Clemente ∙ João Gomes ∙ José Oliveira ∙ Laura Alves ∙ Luís Vieira ∙ M. Luísa Sousa ∙ Manuel Rodrigues ∙ Mark Lange ∙ Miguel Almeida ∙ Miguel Atanásio Carvalho ∙ Miguel Baptista ∙ Miguel Pinto ∙ Minh Thu Nguyen ∙ Patrícia Melo ∙ Patrícia Robalo ∙ Paula Gil ∙ Paulo Muacho ∙ Pedro Monteiro ∙ Rosa Félix ∙ Tiago Mota Saraiva
