How do citizens assess mobility in the municipality where they live? What are the main problems? What do they value and what do they expect from public policies? These are some of the questions addressed by the study “Urban Mobility Trends in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area,” presented today by the Automobile Club of Portugal (ACP), at a session that counted with the participation of the ACP president, Carlos Barbosa, and of the president of the Lisbon Metropolitan Area and of the City Hall of Lisbon, Carlos Moedas.
Carried out with 1,850 residents from the 18 municipalities of the Lisbon Metropolitan Area (AML), the study provides a radiography of mobility in the region, analyzing travel habits, use of the different modes of transport, road safety, evaluation of municipal policies and future challenges.
The car remains dominant, but there is room for change
The car continues to be the main means of transportation for AML residents. The study shows that 59% of respondents use the car as their primary mode of transport and 67% consider it their preferred way of getting around, mainly because of speed, practicality and flexibility.
However, the results show that there is willingness to rely more on public transport. Almost half of respondents (48%) say they would use this mode more if there were more frequent services and better schedules, while 31% point to the need for more direct connections with fewer transfers. Only 17% consider price reduction as the main incentive, showing that the quality of the offer remains more decisive than cost.
Traffic, parking and enforcement among the main concerns
Excessive traffic (46%), lack of parking (42%), and insufficient enforcement and police presence (33%) are identified as the main problems felt by residents.
Additionally, 34% say they do not change their usual way of getting around due to a lack of convenient alternatives, while 22% refer to the need for flexibility and the lack of time. Only a quarter consider themselves fully satisfied with the way they currently move about.
Oeiras, Barreiro and Cascais lead mobility assessment
In the evaluation of municipal mobility policies, Oeiras, Barreiro and Cascais emerge as the best ranked municipalities by residents, while Setúbal is the only city to present a negative balance in the overall assessment.
Across the board, citizens consider that the main priority of the municipalities should be the increase in the frequency and reliability of public transport, followed by the creation of more direct and faster connections and the reduction of automobile congestion.
Road safety remains a concern
In the field of road safety, residents identify distracted driving (48%) and speeding (46%) as the most dangerous behaviors on the roads. The majority also considers the presence of enforcement authorities to be insufficient, with the strengthening of police presence (30%) being the most cited measure to improve road safety.
The results also reveal a growing concern with sustainability. There is interest in cleaner mobility solutions, notably in the reinforcement of electric public transport, although bicycles and scooters continue to appear among the less preferred modes for daily use.
Approximately 29% of respondents already own or are considering purchasing an electric vehicle, while telework emerges as one of the most valued measures to reduce the need to travel.
The study “Urban Mobility Trends in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area” is part of the ACP Observatory, an independent structure promoted by the Automobile Club of Portugal, whose Advisory Council brings together the main national entities related to mobility, transport, road safety and the environment. Through studies and a permanent barometer, the Observatory tracks the evolution of mobility in Portugal, surveys citizens and produces knowledge that supports a better understanding of the sector’s challenges and of the policies that impact the use of road space.
