8/14/2019 Covilh: mobility in a mountain town

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NovaTerra Connected Cities / february 2007 / 32

Jorge Humberto and Gaspar Gonalves, Universidade da Beira Interior (UBI), Portugal

Frank van der Hoeven, Delft University o f Technology (TU Delft), Netherlands

Photos: Jorge Humberto and Gaspar Gonalves

The activities of the Connected Cities network include showcase

workshops. These are based on a give-and-take formula in which a

partner can invite other partners to illustrate an inspiring case study

or present an iss ue or a problem an d ask for advice . The Mobility in

Covilh showcase is a clear example of the latter. Showcases are

prepared in advance. In the case of Covilh the local authority and

the university produced a lengthy paper and a comprehensive

presentation. Both documents provide insights in the main

characteristics of the town and the mobility problems it faces. Low

density mountain town Covilh, founded in 1186, is a large town of

35,000 inhabitants in the eastern midlands of Portugal. The town is

located on one of the hillsides of the highest mountain of continenta

Portugal. Around half the population live in Conceio, Santa Maria,

So Martinho and So Pedro, the four central parishes. The urban area

of Covilh has a low population density, only a third of the national

average.

The easiest way to describe Covilh is to divide it into three parts: th

uptown, the downtown and the new town. The uptown includes the

historic centre, old residential buildings, churches and services such

as banks, insurance companies, medical serv ices, shops, the town hal

local government offices, police and fire brigade, the main university

buildings and day care centres. The downtown has the train station,

Steep gradients in Covilh uptown.

Covilh: mobility ina mountain town

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