From Porto to Matosinhos by bicycle in a new cycle path of 8 Km

From the paper to the road, Porto and Matosinhos City Halls signed a contract with the Environmental Fund to unite the two cities through a new cycle route. With eight kilometres long, and a 1,7 million euros investment, the path will allow cycling from Trindade to S. Mamede de Infesta and Matosinhos centre.

The new route is the result of a joint application by the two cities under the program Portugal Ciclável, which allows the total amount to be financed – in 750 thousand euros – by the Environmental Fund. The remainder will be divided between Porto (46%) and Matosinhos (54%), that will be responsible for connecting this cycle path to the Leça Green Corridor.

The signing of the contract had the presence of Pedro Bagulha, Porto’s Urbanism and Public Space councilman, Luísa Salgueiro, Matosinhos Mayor, José Pedro Matos Fernandes, Minister of Environment and Climate Action, Eduardo Pinheiro, Mobility secretary of State, and Alexandra Carvalho, Director of the Environmental Fund.

“This generation’s major fight is climate change”, said the minister of environment. João Pedro Matos Fernandes has no doubt that “we have to move in different ways. Portugal has already reduced its carbon emissions by 32%, but there’s a sector where it has grown - transport. Its carbon emissions increased from 25% to 28%.”

Until 2030, the country foresees the existence of 960 kilometres of cycle paths, in a global investment of 300 million euros. The minister believes that betting on these more environmentally friendly forms of travel, will save between 23 thousand to 50 thousand tons of carbon dioxide.

For the representative of the central government, “only the autarchies know their citizens and can design solutions in the city in order to change behaviours.” Of the seven applications approved in this second notice from Portugal Ciclável, five are in the Metropolitan Area of Porto.

In addition to the cycle path between Trindade and Matosinhos, the Environmental Fund will also contribute to the extension of the cycle connection between Asprela and Baguim do Monte, passing through Rio Tinto, that will provide nearly six kilometres for travelling in soft modes. With an approved amount of 970 thousand euros, 728 thousand will come from the State, while Porto (70%) and Gondomar (30%) will share the rest.

Within the city, the connection between Campo Alegre and Asprela, or the initiative of the students from Colégio Luso-Francês to paint a cycle path to the University Centre, are examples of the effort to contribute to a greener urban mobility and to the reduction of 50% of the carbon dioxide emissions by 2030, to which Porto proposed itself.