Lisbon - EN

Lisbon is the capital of Portugal. The city lies at the heart of a metropolitan area home to 2.9 million people. Inside city limits, an area of 84 sq. Km and a population of 547,733 (Census 2011). 

During the second half of the 20th century, as car use increased, a significant portion of the city's narrow historic streets were dedicated to car traffic and parking. This resulted in less space for pedestrians, and a tough time for public transport. It also led to a planning, design and management culture that for decades put the car first. And second. Today, one of Lisbon's challenges is meeting the transport needs of its aging population: 24% of the city's residents are 65 years or older, and over 90,000 report having difficulty with at least one type of daily activity (e.g., walking or using steps, sight, hearing, etc.).

Activities in FLOW

Lisbon's sustainable mobility goals

In 2014, unanimous approval of the City's Pedestrian Accessibility Plan by both political chambers (City Council and City Assembly) marked a turning point. Lisbon gained a clear strategy, with clear goals and guidelines, supported by a strong and committed political consensus. It's a strategic plan, with five operational areas. Each area focuses on a limited number of key issues. For each key issue, the Plan sets a prospective diagnosis (looking for opportunities for change), general guidelines (to guide day to day decisions) and lists 100 actions that must be implemented by the end of 2017).

Microscopic modelling in FLOW

FLOW provides Lisbon with a unique opportunity to make significant and purposeful progress in some of its Plan's key issues. Lisbon worked on three FLOW measures that deal directly with some of the city's toughest challenges: longer "green light" time for pedestrians, adaptation or removal of pedestrian underpasses and overpasses, and increasing pedestrian walkways through widening of sidewalks and/or creating pedestrian and bike only streets.

Through its modelling activities in FLOW, Lisbon answered such questions as Can we increase green times for pedestrians, and ban right-turn-on-red? Will it make traffic all over town grind to a halt? Is fear of congestion justified?

Anticipated outcomes

Lisbon's involvement in FLOW lead to a significant improvement of the pedestrian network, in terms of safety, accessibility, comfort and general appeal

The City's Website Address: www.cm-lisboa.pt

The Plan's Website Address: www.andalisboa.pt 

The Team's contact: equipa.acessibilidade@cm-lisboa.pt