Source: Away

Porto needs public bicycles and fast, says TMP President.

Porto has yet to implement a public bicycle-sharing system, but it is essential and should be introduced as soon as possible, according to Marco Martins, president of Transportes Metropolitanos do Porto (TMP). Martins emphasized the importance of developing a shared bike network across municipalities in the Porto Metropolitan Area (AMP) while ensuring collaboration with local authorities.

“It’s something we want to invest in, naturally, but always in dialogue and consensus with the municipalities, which are the holders of the public space and the concession,” Martins told reporters upon arriving at the AMP headquarters in Porto. His first full-time day in the role began with a public transport commute from Gondomar via the Unir bus and Porto Metro.

Currently, bike-sharing systems in the region operate at the municipal level. Martins pointed out the limitations of this approach, stating, “I can’t pick up a bike in Matosinhos and leave it in Gondomar, or in Gaia and leave it in Póvoa [de Varzim].”

He stressed the need for an integrated mobility approach, where various transport options work together to improve accessibility. “The more transport is promoted, the more tools and alternatives there are in soft mobility, the more citizens can use them,” he explained.

TMP, the newly established transport authority, will oversee the Unir network and manage the Andante ticketing system, which is used across all AMP public transport services. Additionally, two advisory bodies—the Metropolitan Mobility Council and the Advisory Council for Mobility Technologies—are set to be formed to address mobility challenges in the region.

The idea of a public bike-sharing system in Porto is not new. In March last year, urban mobility expert Paula Teles advocated for the creation of a bicycle network integrated into the Andante system.

“Porto doesn’t have this yet and it has to: public bicycles have to appear. And they have to appear quickly. Private companies alone aren’t enough. It has to be a public effort. We need to buy a lot of bicycles, […] they have to be almost free, and they have to be part of the Andante,” she stated.

Paula Teles also highlighted the growing challenges of urban traffic, particularly in high-tourism areas, where cars are increasingly restricted due to the dominance of pedestrians.