They have been a big part of my life for the last four or five years. I started by riding one to the university, and shortly it took over all my city commuting in Braga (which is not very big). Portuguese urban rail trains also allow for bike transport with no additional fees, and so I would also cycle to and in Porto.

I moved to Lisbon in early 2021, where I became a full-time cyclist, rarely dependent on city public transportation, and learned much about the interaction with cars and the surrounding urban landscape. Lisbon, albeit hilly at points, is equipped with a very basic infrastructure for cycling; if willing, one can (arguably, must...) avoid the car for daily commutes. Later, in Porto, I'd commute daily on the bike, with most of it being a 6% incline road. It was often sweaty, but definitely not impossible. Even rainy days would not stop me (there's lots of impermeable clothing available!).