transport

Avenida Paulista cycle lane inaugurated in São Paulo

Anadolu Agency

SÃO PAULO — An eagerly-awaited new cycle lane that runs along Brazil’s main business boulevard, Avenida Paulista, was inaugurated on Sunday by São Paulo mayor Fernando Haddad.

The entire thoroughfare was closed to vehicles as thousands of people took over the streets on bikes and scooters in a vibrant festival of cycling.

Haddad said the major new 2.7-kilometer (1.7-mile) cycle lane, which received $3.9 million (12.2 million reais) of government funding, was a “symbol of quality of life” in the city.

“The new cycle lane is an example from the city of São Paulo of a gesture toward sustainable future in Brazil,” the São Paulo mayor told Anadolu Agency (AA).

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VIDEO: Latest MPL protest against transport fares ends in violence

Anadolu Agency

SÃO PAULO — At least six people were detained and four injured, including a minor, in São Paulo on Friday night after a largely peaceful protest against recent price rises to public transit fares turned violent.

After following a route around the historic city centre, the march returned to the Municipal Theatre, from where it had begun — and shortly afterwards chaotic scenes broke out between protesters and security forces.

Police said they responded when a flare was let off in their direction, but the protest’s organizers, the Free Fare Movement (Movimento Passe Livre, MPL), said via Twitter that the security forces fired first and that those policing the event had set out to “ruin the protest with violence.”

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Violence mars new Brazil protest over transport price hike

Anadolu Agency

SÃO PAULO — The second major protest against a recent price hike in public transit fares this year ended in violence on Friday evening, with a number of protesters arrested in central São Paulo.

The demonstration and march, called by the MPL, the Free Fare Movement, gathered 3,000 protesters, according to police estimates; organisers said 20,000 attended. An Anadolu correspondent at the scene put the total at about 5,000.

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UPDATED: Two dead in Brazil World Cup city overpass collapse

Anadolu Agency – UPDATED 4 July 10:15am

SÃO PAULO – An overpass under construction in the Brazilian World Cup host city of Belo Horizonte collapsed onto a busy highway on Thursday, killing two person and injuring 22 others, officials confirmed to the Anadolu Agency (AA).

The flyover fell on four vehicles – a bus, two trucks and a car – at around 3:10pm local time (18:10 GMT).

The structure is part of the city’s new rapid bus transit system – part of the city’s World Cup urban mobility project – and was meant to be ready in July.

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Vandalism mars Brazil anniversary march

Anadolu Agency

SÃO PAULO – Damage of over US$1 million was wrought by acts of vandalism by Black Bloc elements during an anniversary march led by the MPL (Free Fare Movement) in the streets of São Paulo on Thursday evening.

As a major World Cup tie between England and Uruguay got underway on the other side of the city, the MPL-coordinated march gathered around 1,300 people in the city centre, according to military police figures.

Although it began peacefully, it ended in a major damage to at least 10 bank branches and a luxury car showroom.

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Brazil metro strike protest clashes with police

Anadolu Agency

SÃO PAULO – Police in São Paulo clashed with protesters and striking metro (subway) workers on Monday, just three days before the World Cup kicks off in the city.

Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse crowds, some of whom were blocking access to the Ana Rosa metro station. At least 13 people were detained.

São Paulo’s metro workers have been on strike for five consecutive days, and are threatening to continue their walkout until Thursday’s World Cup opening match.

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