The GIRA, Lisbon’s shared bicycle system managed by EMEL, has, starting this Monday, September 15, a new technological platform. The update aims to improve service management and make the use of bicycles and stations more predictable, according to a statement.
According to the same source, among the main novelties are a new application, with a more intuitive interface, a digital wallet, and features designed to facilitate contact with customer support. The update results from rebuilding the technological ecosystem that supports the service, after EMEL had identified, over the years of operation, opportunities for improvement and technical challenges.
GIRA is present in all the parishes of Lisbon, through more than 200 stations and a fleet of over 2,000 bicycles. The service currently has more than 40,000 users, who account for more than 9,000 trips per day.
Since the start of operation, GIRA bicycles have traveled around 70 million kilometres. According to EMEL, the use of the service is believed to have contributed to avoiding more than 8,400 tonnes of CO₂ emissions, in the context of replacing trips made by other modes of transport.
“This is an important milestone in the modernization of the GIRA service that offers Lisbon simpler, more sustainable and accessible mobility for everyone,” said Carlos Silva, president of EMEL, on the occasion of the launch of the new application.
The launch was marked by an event at the Entrecampos GIRA station, which also saw the presence of Gonçalo Reis, vice-president of the Lisbon City Council.
The new GIRA application is available for iOS and Android devices, through their respective app stores.
