Rebellion among the users of the Viana-Porto Express due to the termination of the discount

Users of the Auto Viação do Minho road service traveling between Viana do Castelo and Porto believe that the cancellation of the discount card by the municipality of Viana for anyone who is not an “active user” is “a completely unfair, unreasonable decision and lack of any reasonableness.” The municipality confirms the end of the discount for those who make less than 15 trips per month, ensures that support remains for citizens who travel regularly for health reasons, and ensures that it wants to “encourage the use of public transport.”

This is a monthly pass that costs 130 euros, while the municipality pays 40% of this amount, leaving citizens with 78 euros. “In fact, once again it appears that the citizens of the municipality of Viana do Castelo are still left behind,” the representatives of these users refer in a note sent to cm.

It is also mentioned that the municipality of Esposende, which is also served by the express bus in question, “was aware of the serious mobility problem faced by its residents and quickly found a solution that led to week after week of new passengers. who enter Esposende with an appropriate residence card, without any minimum requirement to use the service, reinforcing and practicing a real policy to encourage the use of public transport and adapt to new business models of working hours, which forces employees to go only to the company two to three times a week.”

interrogated morning Post, the municipality of Viana do Castelo explains that “the provision of the emergency discount was intended to support intensive users of the Viana-Porto Viana route, holders of a monthly pass, so that they spend about the same as they would pay for a pass, which would mean the estimated / minimum the number of trips to be assessed after the first month of implementation of the measure, which will result in the cancellation of cards that do not reach this minimum.” He adds that it has been determined that “the minimum number of trips per month will be 15, which covers more users than the corresponding pass, and also allows it to be used by those who alternate between in-person and remote work, as well as periods of vacation and absence.” The municipality also assures that “it has been decided to extend this measure so that patients can receive regular consultations/treatment in the medical institutions of Porto”.

Thus, “indeed, cards used in less than 15 trips were canceled, but all other cards with high use, as well as cards of citizens who travel regularly for health reasons, were retained.” The municipality also adds: “We want to encourage the use of public transport and try to motivate our residents to do so as much as possible. It is in pursuit of this ideal that the municipality of Viana do Castelo is developing a sustainable urban development program. A mobility plan that focuses on decarbonization and inclusion, so this measure fits perfectly into this design. This municipality is sensitive to expressed concerns. We try to be as comprehensive as possible in the measure taken and we will always be ready to listen and find the best solutions together.”