The measures started to be implemented earlier this month in a bid to counter attitudes which ‘harm the free movement of pedestrians, especially those with reduced mobility´.


The move follows a rise in popularity of pay-per-use means of transportation, such as scooters and bicycles, which can be picked up and dropped off indiscriminately at any point in a city. Such novelty rides are resulting in an increase of two-wheelers ‘parked’ on pavements in obstructive ways.


The Council of Santa Maria Maior is responsible for managing historical parts of Lisbon, placing graver importance on the necessity to have unobstructed routes for visitors and residents alike.


The President of the local Council, Miguel Coelho, labelled the measure as being a part of the “extra contractual civic responsibility that we have towards pedestrians who may suffer accidents resulting from a lack of due diligences [on behalf of the Council]”.