Around 11 km of Lisbon's cycle paths are considered high or extreme risk

The study “Risk assessment of Lisbon's cycle paths” was presented this Tuesday in Lisbon by the Automóvel Clube de Portugal (ACP), revealing that 22.09% of the approximately 56 km of the capital's cycle network represent a high or extreme risk, while 53.53% are at a medium level and only 24.38% at low risk.

The analysis was carried out using CycleRAP, which assesses the safety of cycling infrastructure by anticipating collision risks. It found “7.18% of the route was at extreme risk and 14.91% was at high risk”.

Collisions between motor vehicles and bicycles emerged as the greatest risk, with collisions between cyclists at the other end of the list of dangers.

The Rua Castilho cycle path is one of those that fall into the extreme and high risk category: “0.6 kilometers with 100% [risk] and cycle paths on the road, without physical barriers and totally exposed to car traffic”. The experts recommend “relocating the cycle path to the opposite side of the street, ensuring total physical segregation”, eliminating conflicts with vehicles and reducing interactions with pedestrians.

According to the study, in the city center, the reduced width of the roads and mixed traffic conditions “make it difficult for bicycles to circulate”, while in the riverside area, frequent interactions with pedestrians “require careful planning of the infrastructure to minimize conflicts”.

The simulation tool revealed that targeted interventions could “reduce global risk levels by up to 68%, providing a strong evidence base for prioritizing future infrastructure investments.”