New Funchal bus lanes begin tomorrow amid fears of further congestion
Major traffic changes will come into force in central Funchal tomorrow, 2nd of September, including approximately 775 metres of new bus lanes, the removal of parking spaces and restrictions on pedestrian access across the Pelourinho Bridge.
Funchal City Council says the measures are intended to make public transport faster and more reliable. However, the Liberal Initiative (IL) has warned that removing capacity from already congested roads could create further bottlenecks and transfer traffic problems to surrounding streets.
Under the changes, a 170-metre bus lane will be introduced in the western traffic lane of Rua 5 de Outubro, between the Esfera da Sorte establishment and Praça da Autonomia.
Two separate sections will be created in the eastern traffic lane of Rua 31 de Janeiro. The first will extend for approximately 180 metres, between the steps leading to Largo do Pelourinho and Ponte do Cadeia, while the second will cover around 320 metres between Largo do Phelps and Ponte Nova.
A further 105-metre bus lane will be created in the western traffic lane of Rua do Visconde de Anadia, between Travessa da Malta and Praça da Autonomia.
The lanes will be reserved for regular public passenger transport, taxis, emergency and rescue vehicles, vehicles performing urgent public-interest duties and those on police missions. Motorcycles and motorised tricycles will also be permitted to use them under Article 77 of the Portuguese Highway Code.
Other vehicles may enter the lanes only when strictly necessary to access garages, private properties or parking areas, or to change direction at the nearest junction where road signs permit.
Stopping and parking within the bus lanes will be prohibited.
Limited loading and unloading will be allowed on part of Rua 31 de Janeiro, between police numbers 9A and 13N. Vehicles will be permitted to stop for a maximum of 30 minutes between 10:00 and 12:00 and from 14:00 to 16:00 each day.
The municipality will also prohibit pedestrians from using the Pelourinho Bridge, which connects Largo do Pelourinho with Rua da Casa da Luz.
Paid parking spaces on Rua da Infância, between the pedestrian crossing beside the Public Security Police building and Rua Conde Carvalhal, will also be removed. According to the council, this is necessary to maintain the flow of traffic near the public transport stop.
The Liberal Initiative says it supports the goal of improving public transport but questions whether the consequences of such a significant reorganisation have been adequately assessed.
Municipal deputy Rosie Bayntun argues that the council should have examined the likely effects on general traffic, local businesses, loading and unloading operations and access to car parks before introducing the lanes.
Particular concern has been raised over Rua 31 de Janeiro and the Bazar do Povo Bridge area, where traffic is already affected by the taxi rank beside the Carmo Church, local access requirements and vehicles entering nearby car parks.
“No one can be against improving public transport,” Rosie Bayntun said. However, she argued that the council must demonstrate whether the new lanes will genuinely improve the speed and reliability of buses or simply push congestion onto neighbouring roads.
Loading and unloading arrangements are another concern. Although specific hours have been allocated on Rua 31 de Janeiro, IL argues that the available space is already insufficient for businesses operating in this busy commercial area.
The party also referred to problems it believes were caused by the existing bus lane beside Marina Shopping, particularly around the Rotunda do Infante, and questioned why the council is now extending the model across a much larger part of the city.
The timing of the changes has also been criticised. They will take effect as schools reopen and many people return to work following the summer holiday period, bringing a sharp increase in daily journeys.
According to Rosie Bayntun, introducing the measures at one of the busiest points in the calendar could make it more difficult to judge whether the new system is working successfully.
IL has also called for clear and measurable criteria to monitor congestion, journey times and the effect on surrounding roads. The party wants the council to explain what level of disruption will be considered acceptable and under what circumstances the measures might be amended or reversed.
The municipality plans to reinforce police supervision during the initial implementation period, but IL questions whether traffic will continue to flow once that visible presence is reduced.
“If, during the first few days, traffic police are positioned at every critical point, it is natural that circulation will appear to work. But what happens when that presence is no longer there?” Rosie Bayntun asked.
“Funchal needs better public transport and better mobility. But removing capacity from the road network is not, in itself, a mobility policy,” she concluded.
Funchal City Council has appealed for drivers’ understanding and cooperation during the transition and urged all road users to observe the new signs. Further details are available through the municipality’s mobility platform
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
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