“Right now the agreement is closed, we will have to implement it and what I did was ask TML [Transportes Metropolitanos de Lisboa] to do it as soon as possible. And so that, for those who are the eldest we are moving fastest. Then, for the younger ones, we can start the school year with the passes there from September 1 to November 15”, said the Mayor of Lisbon, Carlos Moedas.

The mayor stressed that the speed of the measure for the elderly “will depend on the operational capacity”, because there this is “a very large operation” that involves not only the Chamber, which owns Carris, but also several operators such as Metro and CP.

Carlos Moedas also underlined that “Lisbon is the first major capital in Europe to take this measure”, which “will also be a way of influencing other cities and other countries that this is the way to go”.

The agreement allows free use of public transport for residents in Lisbon over the age of 65, young people up to 18 years of age or higher education students up to 23 years of age, except in the case of degrees in medicine and architecture, in which the passes will be free until the age of 24.

In all cases it is necessary to have tax residency in Lisbon.

The measure is expected to cost the city nearly 15 million euros.