Alex Ramos, a businessman and spokesperson for 12 companies in the industry, has stated that several requests have been sent to Porto City Hall demanding the release and publication of an order, which has yet to be heeded.
“It is a complete lack of transparency on the part of the city hall,” he expressed, accusing the municipality of “bad faith” and retaining the document, similar to the first process.
The business owners anticipate that the municipality will make the document available and publish it by Friday. Failure to do so will result in them proceeding with a legal injunction and filing a complaint with the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
Restrictions on the circulation of tricycles and quadricycles in nine streets in the center of Porto were announced a week ago and allegedly took effect on Monday.
Porto City Hall, when contacted, asserts it is ensuring “in every way the transparency of administrative activity” and insists it is still “within the time” to respond to the consultation requests made by the companies.
“The municipality guarantees compliance with the legal deadline of 10 days to respond to requests submitted, specifically with the communication of the date, place, and method for the requested consultation,” it stated.
The city hall further notes that the official publication of these acts “is not a condition for their effectiveness and may be executed.”
‘Tuk-tuks’ are no longer allowed to circulate in Largo dos Loios, the streets of Trindade Coelho, Mouzinho da Silveira, Ribeira Negra, Infante D. Henrique, Fernandes Tomás, and Formosa, as well as Almeida Garrett Square and the Ribeira Tunnel.
Following the announcement, the 12 ‘tuk-tuk’ companies plan to file for an injunction against the restrictions, with the process “virtually complete” and expected to be submitted to the respective authorities next week, Alex Ramos confirmed.
The business owners also considered using other types of vehicles for their activities, such as nine-seat vans or jeeps, even though the tourist experience would not be the same as with ‘tuk-tuks.’
On January 29, Rui Moreira announced the suspension of restrictions on tourist vehicles and occasional service buses in Porto’s Historic Center that had been implemented in October, following a decision by the Porto Administrative and Fiscal Court (TAF).
The issue concerned a pilot project restricting the traffic of tourist vehicles, which commenced on October 1, 2024, limiting these vehicles’ circulation in downtown and central Porto.
The TAF accepted the injunction filed by 12 tour operators against the city of Porto, determining the suspension of these restrictions in the historic center for these companies.
