Portugal has published its pedestrian strategy until 2030

The National Strategy for Active Pedestrian Mobility 2030 has been published in Portugal, outlining a comprehensive plan to enhance pedestrian travel, accessibility and overall well-being. The strategy aims to increase the modal share of pedestrian journeys to 35%, expand accessible pedestrian space by 50%, and reduce sedentary lifestyles by 15% by the year 2030.

The strategy addresses the challenges faced by pedestrians, such as urban and architectural barriers, feelings of insecurity on the roads, and inadequate night lighting. It emphasises the need to prioritise pedestrians in public policies, making walking and movement for those with motor disabilities a universal and accessible option.

To achieve these objectives, the strategy proposes a set of measures to transform public spaces and create a pedestrian-friendly environment. One of the key measures involves establishing coherent pedestrian networks in urban centres, ensuring continuous, safe, and comfortable pathways that are free from architectural and other barriers, which covers pavements, pedestrian streets and squares. There are also measures to improve temperatures and urban spaces, as well as providing suitable furniture for resting and recreation, particularly for children and the elderly. Additionally, the strategy advocates for the implementation of traffic calming measures that highlight public roads as spaces for coexistence and recreation, not just for vehicle circulation. It proposes the development of a public space design manual that can be used by municipalities to guide urbanisation and building processes, prioritising pedestrian-friendly layouts.

The strategy recognises the importance of historic centres and proposes increasing the number of exclusively pedestrian zones in these areas, supported by adequate public transport services and sufficient parking facilities nearby. To encourage active mobility among children, the strategy suggests creating pedestrian school mobility programmes, such as "pedestrian trains" and car-free school streets. Moreover, the promotion of pedestrian paths and rural trails for leisure and tourism purposes is emphasised, alongside the reinforcement of green and blue urban spaces to enhance the overall walking experience.

To ensure its successful implementation, the strategy calls for specific training for municipal technicians, planners and health professionals to actively promote walking and carry out communication campaigns to encourage pedestrian travel. Additionally, there will be a focus on supervising the use of public space and preventing cars from blocking pavements. The integration of pedestrian travel with public transport systems is seen as essential, with a particular emphasis on safe, practical, autonomous, and accessible boarding and disembarking areas.

The funding for implementing the strategy is not quantified in the document, but it stresses the importance of cooperation between the Central Administration, municipalities, inter-municipal communities, metropolitan areas and community funds. The document highlights the potential return on investment for promoting pedestrian mobility, bringing benefits in terms of public health, economy, employment, tourism, environment, social interaction and security.

The National Strategy for Active Pedestrian Mobility 2030 underwent a public consultation process, allowing people, associations and entities to contribute their insights. The strategy was approved by the Council of Ministers and will be managed by a working group under the Institute for Mobility and Transport, which has been allocated €1 million for managing the strategy in the current year.

Ultimately, the National Strategy for Active Pedestrian Mobility 2030 aims to transform Portugal into a country where walking is a safe, attractive and preferred mode of daily transport, promoting a healthier and more sustainable way of life for people. The strategy's integration with the National Strategy for Cycling Mobility will further enhance active and environmentally friendly mobility options in the country.

You can read more about the National Strategy for Active Pedestrian Mobility 2030 here (in Portuguese).

Original article published by lisboaparapessoas.pt on 13 July 2023.