The new BUS lanes implemented in downtown Funchal have raised questions about who can ride on these reserved lanes. One of the main doubts concerns bicycles, namely whether they can use these lanes similarly to motorcycles.
The answer to this question is found in the Portuguese Highway Code, which establishes a clear distinction between motorcycles and velocipedes. This legal differentiation is fundamental to determining which vehicles can or cannot ride on lanes reserved for public transport.
Article 77 of the Highway Code is directly relevant to this issue, since it concerns traffic lanes and the circulation rules applicable to each type of vehicle. This legal provision establishes the specific conditions for the use of the different lanes available on roads.
The distinction between velocipedes and motorcycles in the Highway Code ends up being the key element to answer the initial question about the circulation of bicycles on the BUS lanes in Funchal.
