Car-Free Arrábida kicks off with novelties in Setúbal

One more summer, one more Arrábida Without Cars. Setúbal City Hall reactivated the program that gives priority to public transport for access to the Arrábida beaches and restricts car circulationFor the second year in a row, the parking lot of the city has been destroyed, allowing the abusive parking situation that used to occur in the past, blocking emergency vehicles and others, not to be repeated with the same severity. For the second year, the Arrábida Without Cars once again counts on Carris Metropolitana, which has four lines to the beaches: 4470, 4471, 4474 e 4476.

The start of the program Arrábida Without Cars took place on June 3rd and will be in force until September 17th. During this period, several stretches of the road that runs along the Arrábida coast will have traffic restrictions: private cars are not allowed, only public transportation, cabs, TVDEs and bicycles. The most significant cut is again between the beaches of Figueirinha and Creio; as in previous years, it is again possible to drive to each of these beaches and park in the respective parks, but the circulation between the two beaches is cut off, and it is not possible to drive to the beaches of Galapos and Galapinhos. The other roadblocks are on the access roads to Portinho da Arrábida, Praia do Creiro and Praia de Albarquel. There are exceptions for residents and merchants, which can be consulted here.

Buses do not pass to Galapos

This summer, however, there is a new conditioning. In the stretch between Figueirinha and Creio beaches, no buses, cabs or TVDEs will be allowed. Due to the risk of rocks falling from the hillside because of the bad weather last December, that part of the coastal road has been cut off since then and will remain so this bathing season, by decision of the Civil Protection. Access to the beaches of Galapos and Galapinhos will only be possible from Azeitão and Praia do Creio, on foot or by bicycle; those coming from the Setubal side and Figueirinha beach will not be able to make it, as it will be blocked.

This conditioning forced Carris Metropolitana to change its offer. Line 4472, which connected the Setúbal Transport Interface (ITS), where the main train station and bus terminal of the city are located, to the Creiro beach, passing through Galapos and Galapinhos, will not work. The decision was made to transfer the supply that existed on the 4472 to the 4474 line, increasing the frequency and allowing, at certain times of the day, for runs every 10 minutes, which was not the case last year.

Thus, the line 4474which serves Figueirinha beach, will have two distinct outbound routes, with alternating departures between the Alegro shopping center (without passing through ITS) and the Várzea bus terminal (passing through ITS), and a single return route, in order to relieve congestion at the end of the day. On this return trip, the 4474 will stop at the Várzea terminal, at the ITS (connecting to the train) and, finally, at the shopping center.

Carris Metropolitana explains that "last year there were several constraints in the return from the beach, because there were two lines with different routes. This year to avoid this situation, the last circulation was changed to 20h30 and we opted for a single return that has a frequency of 10 in 10 minutes (varying the beginning of the frequency depending on the weekday or weekend)".. During the 2022 bathing season, the 4472 would make the return trip from Creiro to ITS, passing through Figueirinha with 45 trips per direction every 15 minutes; the 4474 would connect Figueirinha to the Alegro shopping center with 21 trips per direction every 30 minutes. The 4474 line will operate this year between 8 am and 8:30 pm, with 10 or 15 minute frequencies on weekends and holidays, and 15 or 20 minute frequencies on weekdays. This frequency variation depends on the time period (more frequency in the morning and late morning periods, less during the late morning and early afternoon).

In addition to line 4474, Carris Metropolitana will also activate the lines 4470, 4471 e 4476. The first will allow access to Creiro beach from ITS, passing through Azeitão. The second will be a circular line ("back and forth") between downtown Setúbal (Avenida Luísa Todi) and Albarquel beach. The third will operate between the parking lot of the Secil plant and Figueirinha beach, also in circular mode ("to-and-from").

These four lines are designed for those who arrive by public transport in the city of SetúbalEither to the Várzea terminal or to ITS, where the main Sadina train station is located. They are also designed for those who choose to park further away from the beaches and take the last few kilometers by public transport - the Alegro shopping center parking lot is free for those who take the 4474; the Secil factory parking lot, with 180 parking spaces, is free with the use of the 4476 line (You can check the capacity here); at Figueirinha and Creiro beaches there is parking with associated fees.

In short, this is the existing supply:

These lines will come into operation gradually. During the month of June, the 4470, 4471 and 4476 lines will only run on weekends and holidays; only from July 1st until September 10th will they run every day. The 4474 line will also only be in full operation from July until September 10; in June, it will operate on weekdays with only seven circulations per direction. During the extended weekend of September 16 and 17, which includes the municipal holiday on the 15th, all four lines will be active.

If in 2022 Carris Metropolitana had just started its operation, in a rather troubled beginning, this year the service is already solid - as assured by Alsa Todi, the company that operates in this part of the metropolitan area, and passengers to the newspaper O Setubalense. It is in this climate of stability that the Arrábida Without Cars not present the flaws of last year. In this summer season, it is already possible to consult all the information about Carris Metropolitana's offer on applications such as Google Maps, CityMapper and Moovit, including during this summer program. Information about the timetables of the different lines can also be consulted here.

It should be noted that the Navegante passes run, without limitations, on these four lines of Carris Metropolitana included in the Arrábida Without Cars (in Setúbal, the Municipal pass will cost 20 euros from the beginning of 2023, as part of an anti-inflation measure by the municipality). Those who do not have a pass can use the zapping and travel through 1,55 € in these lines - the balance zapping can be loaded onto a Personalized Navigator card (the one used for the pass) or an Occasional Navigator card (the disposable cards). Trips purchased on board are more expensive so as not to impact the speed of the buses, staying at 2,60 € each.

With the Arrábida Without CarsSetúbal City Council intends safeguarding the population's access to beaches, environmental preservation, safety conditions, and emergency and rescue responses. More information about the program can be found here.