Parque Dr. Manuel Braga is an older park reflecting the trend of hardening river edges in urban areas. It is somewhat popular, attracting a variety of users. It also benefited from the Polis program in the form of the new Museu da Agua. Click to enlarge image.
When asked about the connection between the historic center and the river, three stakeholders agreed that access from the historic center could be improved. One interviewee who was probably most involved with the project maintained that it was not difficult to get to the river from the historic center. Access on foot from Largo de Portagem to Parque Verde is complemented by the Linha Azul, the “Blue Line” bus that takes residents into the urban core.
Linha Azul buses run on electricity, and are small enough to go on pedestrianized streets such as Rua Visconde da Luz, where the bus doesn't have the right of way and is not allowed to overtake pedestrians. Linha Azul riders are mostly older people who are the typical residents the historical center. The bus passes through Rua Sa da Bandeira, before entering the Alta area with almost-impossible-to-pass narrow streets.
Although one interviewee said Parque Verde may now provide people with a reason to come down to the river via the Baixa, or downtown area, access is solely through Largo de Portagem, which is limiting. Access from the historic center to the river could also be improved by rehabilitating the train station area in the Baixa.
Another part of the historic center that could benefit from better connection to the river is the Jardim Botanico, or the Botanical Garden. On plan view without elevation lines, the garden is deceivingly close to the river. But the Garden lies on the steep southeast slope of the acropolis. A cable car was proposed to provide this connection, but the Botanical Garden representative I spoke to preferred a “walk-through” instead of a “fly-through” connection. Visitors could technically walk through the garden from its main entrance on Alameda Dr. Julio Henriques to its southern entrance on Rua do Alegria. When I visited the Botanical Garden, many parts were unfortunately closed, including the leading to the southern entrance.
While the stakeholders I talked to habitually drive and thus are not very familiar with the public transport system, I got the impression that public transportation is not so popular an option. The Ecovia project, not directly related to the Polis program, was started a few years ago to encourage drivers to park their cars in parking lots just outside the city center, where they then transfer to a shuttle to downtown. The stakeholders I spoke with agreed the project was well-intentioned, but did not work very well. The shuttles have stopped running.
The stakeholders I spoke to offered some possible reasons. First, there was not a real need for such a program. Traffic congestion is not horrendous enough in Coimbra to motivate people to use the Ecovia system. Parking is pretty easily available in the historic center, and instead of paying at the Ecovia lots, drivers would rather pay for parking downtown. Secondly, public transportation typically requires transfers and longer wait times, and the perceived inconvenience is a deterrent. One interviewee suggested that perhaps out-of-town train riders would appreciate a transfer from Coimbra-B station, the old station north of the historic center.
Parque Verde appears most accessible to those who drive. Walking is possible from the historical center, but access is only through Largo de Portagem, a small entry point to the downtown. Public transportation options may be available but are mostly unpopular.
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