The waterfront and bike lanes: walking, running and cycling in João Pessoa

The seafront concentrates most of the capital's bike lane network, used daily by pedestrians, runners and cyclists.

João Pessoa has, according to the Executive Superintendency of Urban Mobility (Semob-JP), about 121.8 km of bike lanes and bike paths, most of it concentrated along the seafront, which links the urban beaches of Bessa, Manaíra, Tambaú, Cabo Branco and Seixas. Even so, a survey by Aliança Bike (an association of the bicycle sector) cited by the local press places the state capital in 9th position among Brazilian capitals with the smallest bike lane network relative to population, with 12.59 km per 100,000 inhabitants — a sign that the network is substantial along the waterfront but still uneven across neighborhoods.

Along the coastal strip between Tambaú and Cabo Branco, the boardwalk and the bike lane run in separate lanes, which reduces conflict between those who walk, run and cycle — a point praised by regular visitors to the waterfront. In 2016, the City Hall also began requalification works on Avenida Beira Rio, with a bike lane of about 8 km linking Parque da Lagoa (Solon de Lucena) to the Cabo Branco beachfront along the avenue's central median, expanding the connection between downtown and the coast for those who travel by bicycle.

For walking and running, the stretch of waterfront between Manaíra and Cabo Branco tends to be the busiest, especially in the early morning and late afternoon, when the heat is milder. It is common to find running groups, cyclists and walkers sharing the same space, which reinforces the importance of respecting the signage between the pedestrian lane and the bike lane.

Anyone planning to cycle beyond the waterfront should keep in mind that bike lane coverage is more irregular in areas farther from the coast, according to accounts from cyclists gathered by the local press.