The Sustainable School Mobility Program officially kicked off in Espinho this Thursday, October 8th. Promoted by the Transportes Metropolitanos do Porto (TMP), this itinerant initiative aims to raise awareness among young people about the use of public transport and more sustainable mobility options.
The Dr. Manuel Gomes de Almeida Secondary School was chosen as the starting point for a program that will cover approximately 120 schools, involving around 70,000 students from the 7th to 12th grade, across the 17 municipalities of the Porto Metropolitan Area (AMP).
The campaign adopts a proximity model, with educational activities and dynamics held during school breaks. Supported by teams from the education and psychology fields, students are invited to learn more about the public transport network, its environmental advantages, and their contribution to more sustainable mobility, while simultaneously strengthening their daily travel autonomy.
The President of the Espinho Municipal Chamber, Jorge Ratola, and the President of Transportes Metropolitanos do Porto, Nuno Neves de Sousa, were present at the program's launch.
Jorge Ratola, President of the Espinho Municipal Chamber, highlighted that the initiative helps integrate sustainable mobility into the daily lives of families, especially younger generations. The mayor emphasized the importance of promoting public transport as an increasingly present daily travel option and the cooperation between the Municipality and metropolitan entities for more sustainable mobility and improved quality of life.
To facilitate access to public transport, each visited school will feature a mini "Loja Andante" (Andante Store), where students, teachers, and staff can obtain the Andante card, clarify doubts, and get information about the network's operation.
The initiative is also linked to the "O passe valida-te" (The pass validates you) campaign and the promotion of the Free Andante Youth Pass, valid up to 23 years old, aiming to bring young people closer to public transport and encourage more sustainable mobility choices.
In the coming days, the Sustainable School Mobility Program will continue in Espinho, visiting the Domingos Capela Basic and Secondary School and the Dr. Manuel Laranjeira Secondary School, allowing more students from the municipality to learn about available public transport solutions and the benefits of sustainable mobility.
Espinho served as the starting point for a program that will continue in other schools within the Porto Metropolitan Area.
