“Red zones” in Lisbon, areas where digital ride-hailing vehicles will no longer be allowed to begin or end journeys, including parts of the city’s centre and key tourist districts, are set to be introduced by Bolt and Uber “in the coming weeks”.
At the signing ceremony for the agreement, first revealed on Thursday, 26th March, Lisbon’s deputy mayor, Gonçalo Reis, also announced that the first “blue zone”, designed to replicate traditional taxi ranks, but for these ride-hailing services, will be created near the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, in Belém, within the next few months.
Describing the deal as a form of “self-regulation” agreed with the two digital platforms, which together account for more than 10,000 operators circulating on Lisbon’s streets, Reis presented the initiative as a way to ensure “orderly, high-quality and safe circulation”.
Among the four main objectives outlined by the deputy mayor, who oversees the mobility portfolio at Câmara Municipal de Lisboa, the first concerns the creation of red zones.
As previously reported, these will cover several of Lisbon’s principal arteries, including sections of Avenida da República, Avenida da Liberdade, Avenida Fontes Pereira de Melo, Praça do Marquês de Pombal and Avenida Padre Cruz. The restrictions aim to reduce disruption caused by passenger pick-ups and drop-offs to buses operated by Carris along bus corridors, whilst also protecting “historic narrow streets that we want to enhance and prioritise for pedestrians and individual mobility”.
Reis also detailed plans for blue zones, areas specifically organised for passenger boarding and alighting. Alongside the Jerónimos Monastery, examples include Praça do Império, Campo das Cebolas and the Terminal do Oriente, following a model already in place at Lisbon Airport.
The agreement further includes what the municipality describes as a strengthened commitment from TVDE operators to comply with traffic rules, notably avoiding bus lanes, pedestrian crossings, and second-row parking.
Climate transition goals also feature prominently. Electrification targets have been set for vehicles operating on the two platforms, reaching 60% electric by the end of this year and increasing by ten percentage points annually until a fully electric fleet is achieved by 2030. Reis told journalists he was confident the targets would be met, citing “a principle of trust between the parties”.
“We must be ambitious for Lisbon and for mobility,” the deputy mayor said. “It should be a civilised, modern and sustainable city that protects citizens and follows international best practice.” He highlighted the advantages of digital platforms in allowing rapid implementation and ongoing adjustments to both restricted zones and designated pick-up areas.
Reis declined to commit to a specific improvement in average bus speeds but expressed hope that Carris services, currently averaging 13.66 km/h, would become faster, helped in part by the recruitment of 259 additional drivers for the municipal operator.
Responding to criticism from some TVDE drivers concerned about potential losses in income, Mário de Morais, Bolt’s general manager in Portugal, described the agreement as “a reinforcement of commitment with Lisbon City Council to ensure everything is properly organised”.
He argued that designated pick-up points were logical, comparing them to airport operations. “It would make no sense to collect passengers anywhere at an airport, ideally people would even be picked up on the runway,” he said, illustrating the need for structured locations.
Morais added that fleet electrification had been progressing naturally due to business considerations, noting that electric vehicles already account for 43% of cars using Bolt’s platform nationwide, with a higher share expected in Lisbon.
For his part, Francisco Vilaça, Uber’s general manager in Portugal, said the agreement aligns with the company’s strategy across more than 70 countries.
“We always aim to position ourselves as part of the solution, helping the cities where we operate deliver the best mobility options for residents, workers and visitors,” he said, pointing to initiatives supporting electric mobility, including vehicle financing ecosystems and expanded charging infrastructure.
Vilaça dismissed concerns that the measures would increase costs for passengers or significantly reduce trip volumes. While acknowledging the need for careful implementation, he argued that many red zones would have limited impact, noting the existence of side streets along Avenida da República and Avenida da Liberdade and the availability of alternative pick-up points roughly every 50 metres.
Source: DN
