For several weeks now, the shelters at public transport stops in Lisbon, especially buses, have been being replaced. In many places, holes have already given rise to new shelterscommissioned by Lisbon City Council, more modern and with more comfortable metal seats.
“Under previous concession contracts (signed in 1995 with Cemark and JCDEcaux) there were around 1,750 shelters. The contract that is now being implemented provides for the installation of up to two thousand shelters”, says the municipality, questioned by DN.
What will continue to be scarce are automatic panels with information on waiting times for buses or trams. “The contract (…) provides for the placement of panels indicating waiting times in 60 shelters”explains the CML. Very little, taking into account the size of the city and the number of shelters: two thousand. “The expansion of this system to a higher number is currently being evaluated”the municipality also tells DN.
At the stops there is already a system, the SMS Carriswhich allows you to know the waiting time by sending a text message to the number 3599with the number assigned to the stop and which is indicated on the flag showing the numbers of the routes that stop there.
Then just wait and receive the response, also via SMS. But this system is “very fallible”. “Sometimes you send a message, waiting times appear for the various buses that pass at that stop, and when you arrive at the indicated time, no bus passes. The message is sent again and the waiting time has already been changed”, says Mariana Rodrigues, 49 years old, Carris user.
Panels indicating waiting times, according to this user, “are few”. “And the same thing happens with the SMS Carris – a certain waiting time is often indicated and it does not come to fruition”.
Despite there being around two thousand, spread across the capital, there are still many places without shelters or banks. “The selection of locations for placing shelters at public transport stops follows a careful analysis and study of the specific conditions of each location”, begins by explaining the municipality.
“Several factors were taken into account, including Firstly, the existence of a sidewalk that allows the installation of the shelter. There are numerous stops where the sidewalks are too narrow and make installation impossible. In these situations, a smaller structure is placed, such as a post with the information necessary for the user. Another criterion, for example, is the use and stay at the stop, as is the case of stops at the end of the route/route, where there are no waiting times”.
The last criterion is criticized by users. “It is not true that there are no waiting times in terminals. It is clear that when we arrive at these stops there is not always a bus there”warns Mariana Rodrigues.
CML did not spend a cent on renovating the shelters. “The works to install the shelters are the responsibility of the concessionaire. CML does not spend any financial value on replacing street furniture”.
