“From 26 May, the 14 municipalities of the CIM Viseu Dão Lafões have the ‘Ir e ​​Vir’ transport service available. It can be used for trips to the municipal headquarters or between municipal headquarters”, said Nuno Martinho.

The official was speaking at the Viseu Town Hall at the presentation of flexible transport, a project that began in 2021 in six municipalities to serve populations that are not covered, or have time limitations, by public transport.

“The costs were unfeasible to run a route for one, two or three people. So, everyone has access to transportation to the municipal headquarters, just by requesting it up to 24 hours in advance. That is true territorial cohesion,” he said.

Nuno Martinho said that “Ir e Vir” will serve 52 locations in the municipality of Viseu and will have, “for now, because the number is expected to grow”, 21 taxis to provide transport for the price of a bus ticket. CIM “covers the remainder of the cost” for the service.

The person in charge announced that anyone from the 14 municipalities covered can also travel, through this service, to the Gonçalves Lobato Municipal Aerodrome, in Viseu.

The project will also “be extended to railway stations, when the Beira Alta line is operating, as there have been many requests for this transport service.”

Nuno Martinho said that in four years, the “Ir e Vir” service was used in the 13 municipalities, by “more than 36,000 passengers and involved more than 100 taxis”.

“80% of transport is requested for healthcare, only then comes work and leisure”, he announced.

Nuno Martinho also said that, between June 15 and September 15, 2024, during school holidays, there are locations in some municipalities that do not have public transport and, at that time, the “Ir e Vir” service had “a daily average of 150 people and more than 50 taxis”.

The mayor of Viseu, and also of CIM, Fernando Ruas, was “very happy” that “mobility is finally available throughout the CIM territory”, as the absence of mobility in the municipality worried him, taking into account the “need in some villages”.

Presidents of Parish Councils present there, such as that of Côta (to the north of the municipality and more than 25 kilometers from the headquarters), Joaquim Polónio, questioned the possibility of serving passengers from one parish to another, without needing to go to Viseu, to be able to “go to the pharmacy or the medical centre” in the neighbouring parish.

“This project is constantly evolving, we are working towards continuous improvement and, therefore, I believe that this could become a reality, as long as it works in a complementary way with public transport”, responded Nuno Martinho.

The Viseu Dão Lafões CIM comprises the municipalities of Aguiar da Beira (Guarda district), Carregal do Sal, Castro Daire, Mangualde, Nelas, Oliveira de Frades, Penalva do Castelo, São Pedro do Sul, Santa Comba Dão, Sátão, Tondela, Vila Nova de Paiva, Viseu and Vouzela (Viseu district).