Ferry service to Barra and Costa Nova beaches aims to ease summer access

To combat the intense summer traffic and parking woes plaguing the popular Barra and Costa Nova beaches in Ílhavo, Portugal, a new ferry service is being tested. This initiative aims to provide a more comfortable and accessible way for visitors to reach the coastal areas, which are often difficult to access due to long queues and limited parking.

The ferry service, set to operate this bathing season, will transport passengers and bicycles. For the Costa Nova crossing, a ferry operator with a vessel capable of carrying 16 people and several bicycles has expressed interest. Docks already exist on both sides of the Mira Canal, which historically served as a route for a ferry.

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There is already an operator, with a vessel capable of transporting 16 people and some bicycles at the same time, interested.

At the Barra beach, a temporary platform will be installed to facilitate passenger embarkation and disembarkation. Municipal President Rui Dias explained that renting a platform is a practical approach for this experimental phase, avoiding significant investment until the service's effectiveness is assessed. Both crossings are expected to function during the current bathing season.

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We managed to find a platform that can be rented, especially since this is still in the experimental mode and it makes no sense to make a very large investment without understanding well how it will turn out.

This ferry service is one component of a larger mobility strategy for the region. Dias acknowledged the challenges of managing traffic on the bridge connecting to the beaches, especially since it remains part of the A25 highway. Future plans include exploring the creation of a dedicated corridor for public transport on the bridge, a complex undertaking requiring collaboration between local and central authorities.

While the large-scale adoption of the ferry service remains to be seen, Dias emphasized the value of testing alternative solutions. The Ciclaveiro cycling mobility association has applauded the initiative, viewing it as a crucial step in reducing reliance on private vehicles and enhancing sustainable transport options to the beaches.

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There will be an alternative means to reach the beaches, whether people will use it on a large scale I don't know. We are going to test the model, it being certain that it is much better to test alternative models than to just sit in a chair and complain.