According to a report by Público, the order signed by the vice-president of the Lisbon City Council (CML), Anacoreta Correia (CDS-PP), responsible for the Mobility department, mainly targets streets in the historic centre of Lisbon.

The order determines the prohibition of circulation on several roads in the parishes of Avenidas Novas, Arroios, Penha de França, São Vicente, Santo António, Misericórdia and Santa Maria Maior.

The parishes of Santo António, Misericórdia and Santa Maria Maior have the largest number of streets blocked off from tuk tuks by means of vertical signage.

In a written note sent to Público, Anacoreta Correia said that the objective is to “protect the city’s residents against excesses”.

“It is necessary to organise the use of public space and mobility in the city to better reconcile the preservation of Lisbon and its inhabitants with tourism and those who visit us,” said the vice-president of CML.

Anacoreta Correia said that the order with the restricted zones will, however, be autonomous in relation to the new regulation of tourist entertainment vehicles.

The creation of the new regulation was announced in July last year and is still being prepared, with the expectation that its general lines will be known soon, to then enter into public discussion and still be approved in a council meeting and by the City Council.

The intention is to limit the parking spaces for ‘tuk tuks’ and the number of licenses to be granted to this type of vehicle, in order to regulate the activity in the city.

On November 6th of last year, the local authority approved the start of the drafting of the regulation project for vehicles used for non-heavy tourist entertainment, including tuk tuks.