Last updated on 7th September 2023
The group Cidadania Ativa (consisting of two members, Tina and Ursula, at the moment) met with Dra. Livia, the City Hall manager of “Mobilidade and Transito” on Sept 4.
Our first issue: We’d like the City to keep sportive events* out of Downtown Funchal (Av do Mar and Av Arriaga), not only during school days when parents have to deliver/pick-up their children but also on Saturday/Sunday, considering residents who want to go downtown by bus for shopping or leisure on the weekends.*Not regarding the Rallye Madeira, this has to be downtown.
For these events, the City has to block Av. do Mar and Av. Arriaga, and bus services have to be stopped East and West of Town. Buses coming from the West have to discharge their passengers at the “Henrique” roundabout, and passengers arriving from the East are dumped at Anadia Shopping. This causes major disturbance for residents who want to spend time downtown: good luck, keep walking.
Dra. Livia said that indeed, there are several sports events which are taking place in Funchal but some of them are already taking place in higher areas (Sto. Antonio, Sta. Luzia). We proposed a stretch from Ponta da Laranjeira to Praia Formosa, but the Western stretch of Estrada Monumental is already used for a regular sporting event. The City Hall receives many complaints from local residents who cannot get out of their houses during the event. It would appear that the only ones happy with the situation are the athletes.
Dra. Livia explained that several entities have to pitch in to plan and select a place for an event. Obviously, a Marathon needs a stretch of 42km in one piece. Steep inclines have to be avoided, so the sports organizers come with a list of requirements. The PSP (police) and, if the harbour area is involved, the Port Authority APRAM, also chime in with their conditions for each event.
Dra. Livia said that requests for new sports events are not accepted anymore, the City has reached its maximum of blockages.
Dra. Livia has 10 personnel working for her. They take care of construction traffic changes, new projects, event planning and regulating, complaints (many of them coming through the “Funchal Alerta” portal) and other issues.
We suggested that, as the sports events are unavoidable, the dates should be published more in advance. The City Hall has a new interactive page for all blockages (also for construction sites and processions at https://infomobilidade.funchal.pt/ ) but at this moment, only daily situations are advertised. It would be good if this site could have a short-term prevision, say, from Thursday until the weekend so that residents could see in advance if they can get Downtown by bus on Saturday or Sunday (cars use the Cota 40 tunnels to traverse the city). However, at present her staff are busy with other tasks.
Second issue: if there are sports events blocking the city, the Horarios do Funchal (we spoke to them) could use their small electric cars (no 5) as a shuttle from “Henrique” to Anadia. In order to avoid the longer route on Cota 40 (car traffic) and that the City should make smaller routes available for this shuttle. A route from Anadia to LaVie/Henrique via Bom Jesus exists but the reverse is not possible because Av Anadia is strictly one way. There would have to be changes to open up a clever route for the small electric “bee” to hop over to Anadia.
Third issue: Old Town area: Rua Latino Coelho and Rua D. Carlos I are connected with several cobblestone lanes; they are used by cars to get to the Av do Mar and parking in Almirante Reis etc. With the new SUVs coming into town, people who want to walk in these streets, sometimes have to press themselves against the house walls so that the new, big, nice testosterone driven cars can squeeze through. Not good. We proposed that the City Hall close one of these lanes for traffic, to be used a pedestrian zone.
Bus passengers, as car drivers, like to go downtown to shop or enjoy some leisure time with family and friends. Let’s what happens!
Ursula Hahn
Cidadania Ativa
