“The MUBi – Associação pela Mobilidade Urbana em Bicicleta has filed an injunction to halt the ongoing dismantling of the bike lane on Avenida da República, in Gaia, ordered by the new Mayor Luís Filipe Menezes.
Sincerely, I have never heard of this association! Instead of focusing on structural changes, it focuses on details and seeks to make headlines for the wrong reasons. Preventing something that the vast majority of Gaia’s residents want and support is unreasonable. Cause-driven fundamentalism only harms a tolerant and inclusive society. We cannot just look at our own interests.
During the campaign, Luís Filipe Menezes spoke about removing the bike lane and I did not see this organization request a meeting to clarify positions! I have no doubt that Luís Filipe Menezes would have done so, as he did with other organizations.
They can halt the works, but they will proceed. It is pointless, it’s a sideline, the bike lane will be removed. First, because it makes no sense. Any city in the world with the incline of Avenida da República does not have a bike lane. In Porto, Av. dos Aliados does not have a bike lane, nor does Gran Via in Madrid.
Arguing that it lacks approval in the Assembleia Municipal will be resolved quickly in the next Câmara meeting. Claiming the loss of funds is not a justification. Luís Filipe Menezes promised, at his inauguration, to advance with 25 kilometers of bike lanes, but in suitable locations.
This organization should be concerned about cyclists’ lack of care, such as risky behavior in traffic, like cycling on sidewalks, disregarding traffic lights and signals, or making risky overtakes.
Other cyclist failures include lack of bicycle maintenance, using headphones or phones that reduce attention, and the absence of safety equipment, such as wearing visible clothing and helmets.
Safety is everyone’s responsibility, and cyclists should be aware of their obligations.
It is not mandatory to have bicycle insurance in Portugal, but it would be important to cover the cyclist’s life, their bicycle, and damage caused to others in case of an accident.”
