The contract with the Soltráfego/MEO consortium provides for the supply of bicycles and parts over a period of four years - or until the amount of 4.3 million is reached. EMEL is expected to take delivery of around 2,250 bikes, with at least 400 to be delivered in the first year of the contract.
4.3 million. This is the value of a mega package of new GIRA bikes which EMEL secured with a consortium formed by the companies Soltráfego, a specialist in traffic signals and other traffic solutions, and the telecommunications operator MEO. The contract is for four years and bicycles should be provided, exact number to be defined by EMEL, over that period, whereby in the first year, at least 400 bicycles are agreed to be delivered. All bicycles are electrical and of the same model as the current one.
O Soltráfego/MEO consortium was selected through an international call for tenders, which was closed at the beginning of July. The EUR 4.3 million package includes not only new bikes but also "the possible supply of parts for maintenance" of the shared public bicycle system in the city of Lisbon. Of the €4.3 million, around €3.9 million is earmarked for new bikes, and around €393,800 will be for parts, such as wheels, frames, saddles, handlebars, mudguards, cables or lighting.
During the four years of the contract, or until the amount of 4.3 million is reached, EMEL will you can order the units you need, bearing in mind that the Soltráfego/MEO consortium has set the price of each bike at EUR 1 745. (If we do the math and divide this figure by the 3.9 million cake, we get about 2 250 bikes). In the first year of the contract, the supplier is obliged to deliver 400 bicycles. For the rest of the period, the supply should be gradual, i.e. phased.
It is recalled that the Lisbon City Council and EMEL had planned to reinforce the GIRA system with 900 electric bicycles in 2023: 500 new bikes from the tender now closed and 400 electrified 'classic' bikes. In MayEMEL had awarded a contract for the electrification of the 400 non-powered bicycles in its fleet, in order to boost their use (electric bikes are more in demand by users) - this process will cost around €520,000, just in the supply of parts.
Difficulties in GIRA
To the ECO newspaper, EMEL admitted difficulties in responding to the growing demand for the city's shared public bicycle system, stating that it has "tried daily" through the teams and knowledge of the field, which "balancing is carried out according to standards that follow the actual demand for bicycles per zone". But he admits that "this work is not perfect", in so far as "bikes are limited to the quantity available and on the other hand, there is a rapid growth in the number of users and daily trips made by GIRA, resulting from the success of the operation". Currently, the Lisbon mobility company has about 1100 bicycles from a fleet of 1500-1600, distributed over 152 stations, and at the service of 28,000 users with an active pass. In the first semester, there was an increase of 7% in the number of users and 3% in the number of trips made, compared to the same period of 2022, the company told the same newspaper. Last year, a record 2.6 million trips were made, more than double the previous year.
EMEL also denounces "abnormal increase" of bicycle breakdowns, justifying it by "misuse situations", such as transporting two or more individuals, "practice that has caused substantial harm" in the fleet, causing a "decrease in the number of bicycles in operation" and placing "the safety of those who use them is at stake". Among these damages, it points to the breakdown of the boards. Finally, EMEL says it is preparing actions to raise awareness among users. "for the correct use of GIRA bicycles".
Six new stations
Despite the problems - there have also been numerous failures in the application that allows the use of the service and in the technological system behind it - the Lisbon City Council and EMEL opened, this Friday, six new GIRA stations, increasing by 114 docks the offer for collection of shared bicycles in the city.
The new access points of the public bicycle network were opened by EMEL in the parishes of the Beato, São Domingos de Benfica, Benfica and Carnide. In Beato, the two first stations of the parish, with a total of 42 docks. Both are located on Avenida Infante D. Henrique, next to the Creative Hub (one of the stations has 16 docks and the other 26).
Also in São Domingos de Benfica, two stations were inaugurated, one at Rua São Domingos de Benfica (16 docks) and the other at Rua Conde de Almoster (12 docks). In the parish of Benfica, the new GIRA station is on Avenida do Uruguai and has a capacity of 27 docks. And Carnide has another 17 docks on Avenida do Colégio Militar.
With these new access points, EMEL increases to 152 the number of GIRA stations spread across the city, totaling 2987 docks.
