The Empresa Municipal de Mobilidade e Estacionamento de Lisboa (EMEL), the managing entity of the shared bicycle system in the capital, has announced the opening of three new stations in the Ajuda parish, specifically at the University Campus, with a total of 83 docks. This development fulfills the objective of having Gira network stations in every parish across the city.
The inauguration of the Gira stations in the Ajuda parish was attended by the Mayor of Lisbon, Carlos Moeda (PSD), who highlighted the completion of this initiative.
In a statement, EMEL reported that during the current 2021-2025 term, the Gira network has “doubled all its numbers,” now boasting more than 2,000 bicycles in its fleet, which enhances availability and meets demand more effectively.
Following today’s launch in the Ajuda parish, Gira’s network comprises 195 stations spread across all 24 parishes of Lisbon. The municipal company noted a “sustainable” expansion over the past four years, from just 14 parishes and a total of 102 stations in 2021.
“This network expansion was particularly focused on more peripheral areas of the city, ensuring greater proximity to users and allowing each citizen to typically be no more than 10 minutes from a station on foot,” EMEL stated.
The municipal company also highlighted that the Gira network has seen a doubling in the total number of journeys compared to 2021, showcasing “growing user adherence” to gentle mobility and establishing the system as an effective, economical, and sustainable urban transport alternative.
Since its inception in 2017, Gira has supported over 12 million trips, surpassing 40 million kilometers, as disclosed by the managing entity.
According to Carlos Silva, the president of EMEL, the achievements of the Gira network underscore its “positive impact” on urban mobility and Lisbon’s environmental sustainability.
“The ongoing growth of the network has assured the democratization of the system. […] This expansion into all parishes, without exception, allows for a reduction in social inequalities,” stated the EMEL president, emphasizing that the use of shared bicycles is a mode of transport that “promotes healthy, sustainable lifestyles, environmentally friendly, and socially inclusive.”
Since May 2023, residents of Lisbon who hold a Navegante pass have been able to use the Gira network free of charge.
