Electric Momentum
➔ Eco Bike
Eco Bike began with a clear focus: serving the local biking community of Beato. Over time, that community has expanded — and changed. While many of their customers are still from the neighborhood, a growing number come from other countries.
“Many foreigners tend to be more culturally tuned into biking,” Daniel explains. “In many countries, people grow up with the bike as the default way to get around. That shapes your habits for life.”
Daniel himself got into cycling while living in northern Italy, in a city where bikes are a common means of transportation. Back in Lisbon, returning to a car-centric lifestyle just didn’t make sense to him anymore.
These cultural differences have also shaped Eco Bike’s evolution. Initially, many customers came in with budget bikes — just enough to get by. Now, higher-end bikes are more common, and don't even talk about ebikes. While it’s still a niche, electric bikes are their fastest-growing segment around town.
"We have more and more customers with electric bicycles. We introduced an Italian brand, Bianchi, which is the oldest bicycle manufacturing company in the world. We also see Bosch motors and Shimano systems. Many customers already invest in their bike like they used to in an automobile."
The shift is partly cultural, partly technological, and definitely economic. Daniel credits public funding and local subsidies for helping more people make the jump. “Sometimes all people need is a little push — and a government grant can be that push,” he says.
More Than Just Repairs
While the workshop is the heart of Eco Bike, the duo’s ambitions go beyond fixing chains and tuning gears. Through Bravel, they take cyclists on carefully curated tours to places like Belém, Sintra, and their personal favorite — Arrábida.
“Tourists expect Belém. But when we take them to Arrábida, it’s different — they’re amazed. They don’t expect to find such a wild, beautiful place so close to Lisbon.”
Business, like biking, has its seasons. Spring and autumn bring a surge to the workshop. Summer is peak tour season. Winter is quieter, giving them time to explore new routes, plan ahead, and keep the balance.
Designing a City for Cyclists
Despite progress in bike lanes, Lisbon isn’t the easiest city to ride in. The terrain and infrastructure quality are big challenges, but Daniel points to a bigger issue: road culture.
He believes the root issue is mindset — and empathy. “When you grow up biking, you become a more respectful driver. But if you’ve never been on a bike in traffic, it’s hard to understand what that feels like.”
For Daniel and Matteo, true change requires more than awareness campaigns. It means better urban planning, smarter infrastructure, and fostering a culture where walking and cycling are seen as rights — not afterthoughts.
“Driving isn’t a right,” Daniel says. “It’s a privilege, one you have to earn with a license and insurance. But walking — and safe, sustainable mobility — that should be a right.”
