And, yes, most of it is fun!
I recently posted on Lisbon’s excellent metro system –
reflections from a recent visit – but also want to comment on some of the other
elements of a varied and robust public transportation system.
Tram 28
Like San Francisco’s cable cars, this electrified streetcar
line is part transportation system and part tourist attraction. It is regularly listed as one of the
top 10 things to see in Lisbon.
The crowded, rickety tram pursues a colorful route through the city,
highlighted by a precipitous, winding ride through the narrow lanes of the
historic Alfama district. There is
often a queue to get on the Number 28, but it’s worth the wait.
Modern trams
Alongside the “antique” trams plying Line 28 and a couple of
other routes, Lisbon also uses modern, comfortable trams, notably on Line 15,
which efficiently connects the city center with the outlying tourist
destination of Belem.
Buses
All the buses I saw looked clean and modern. The transit authority uses minibuses to
navigate the narrow streets of the Alfama district.
Tuk-tuks
Perhaps nothing speaks to the tourist boom in Lisbon more than
the proliferation of tuk-tuks – 3-wheelers that race up and down the streets,
serving as taxis and tourmobiles.
These appear to be loosely regulated and entrepreneurial, offering
travelers a quick and sometimes harrowing ride through the city. They vary widely in size and motive
power, so it’s hard to say whether these are a net positive or negative for air
quality and greenhouse gas emissions.
But they are fun!
Funiculars
Lisbon is a very hilly city, and funiculars are practical as
well as being fun. Although I
don’t like the acceptance of graffiti on the cars, they offer a very
picturesque trip!
Elevador Santa Justa
Although generally grouped with the funiculars, the Elevador
Santa Justa really is what it says – an elevator! Designed by a student of Gustav Eiffel, the iron structure
carries passengers from the lower town to the upper town – with lots of selfies
at the top!
Bike/ped
Although the streets are all thronged with people, Lisbon is
in many ways not an easy city for pedestrians. For one thing, cars (not to mention trams) roar (or rumble)
through the narrow streets with pedestrians often walking single file and
hugging the walls of the bordering buildings. For another, the beautiful and characteristic pavement tiles
(calçada portuguesa – you saw them in Rio during the Olympics) are tough to
walk on. As for bikes, I saw very
few, whether due to a non-bicycling culture or the challenging terrain. In the newer parts of town, where there
are broad boulevards, the city has embarked on a program of reducing auto space
and expanding room for bike lanes, pedestrian space, and the always-important
sidewalk cafes.
Transit oriented development
There isn’t much TOD in Lisbon – at least that I saw – with
the notable exception of the Parque das Nações complex in the north of the
city. Originally built for the 1998
World Exhibition, the complex houses an aquarium, a concert hall, a shopping
mall, and other attractions, together with housing. The complex is served by a multimodal transit station,
designed by Santiago Calatrava, which links the Metro, national and commuter
rail, and buses. Although the
design and architecture is a bit too concretey and windy for my taste, it is
impressive and worth a visit.
All-in-all, Lisbon is an easy and inexpensive city to get
around in using public transportation – at least in the center – and a
wonderful place to visit. Está
bem!
