Lisbon cracks down on ride-hailing with new pickup zones and bans

Lisbon is introducing new rules to manage the growing number of ride-hailing vehicles in the city. The changes include designated pickup zones and restricted areas to reduce traffic disruptions. Officials hope these measures will speed up public transport and improve overall traffic flow. The city will create two types of zones for ride-hailing services. Blue zones will act like taxi ranks, allowing pickups and drop-offs in specific areas. These will first be tested as part of a pilot programme before full implementation.

At the same time, red zones will be established where ride-hailing trips cannot start or end. Locations such as Príncipe Real, Rua do Ouro, and Avenida da Liberdade are among the affected areas. The restrictions aim to cut down on congestion caused by ride-hailing vehicles stopping in busy spots.

Lisbon currently has around 10,000 ride-hailing cars operating daily. The city also plans to transition the entire fleet to electric vehicles by 2030, with 60% expected to be electric by the end of 2023.

The new measures focus on reducing delays for Carris buses, which often face slowdowns due to ride-hailing cars blocking lanes. By limiting where these vehicles can stop, officials believe bus services will run more smoothly. The changes will reshape how ride-hailing services operate in key parts of Lisbon. Passengers will need to adjust to the new pickup and drop-off rules, while the city monitors the impact on traffic. If successful, the pilot programme could expand, further altering how people use ride-hailing in the capital.