Future vision of mobility in Brussels

A pedestrian zone in every neighbourhood

For short distances (< 1km) walking is not only the healthiest but often also the quickest way to move about in the city. To motivate people to do this, Brussels must become a more pleasant place. The squares and footpaths must be spacious, accessible and well maintained. More real squares must be built as meeting points along pedestrian routes. I am in favour of more small green spaces and, following the precedent of the cycling premium, a walking premium should be introduced for employees who go to and from work on foot. To improve traffic safety for pedestrians we should extend the 30 zones to all local roads. I think out loud about a permanent car-free or low-traffic zone in every neighbourhood of Brussels. A safe, signposted pedestrian network could connect all historical centres. In the pentagon the car boulevard, which Dansaert Street is today, must become a pedestrian boulevard with greenery and benches, and greenery and space for pedestrians should also be created in front of the Bourse and on the Brouckère Square. The number of car lanes in the central avenues should be halved so that more space can be created for soft means of transport. I have just made the Old Grain Market Square car-free.

Brussels bicycle city

The bicycle is a handy, quick, cheap and environmentally-friendly urban mode of transport that keeps you fit and healthy. 60% of journeys in Brussels cover less than 5 km. There is therefore an enormous growth potential for bicycle transport which currently amounts to 4% of all journeys. The recently stepped-up investment policy in bicycle infrastructure must be continued so that Brussels can become a real bicycle city. When (re)building roads, bicycle infrastructure must be provided that will be as safe as possible. Physical barriers in the city hamper the mobility of cyclists. The canal is a barrier of this kind. That is why I want to build five cycle bridges over the canal: one in Anderlecht, one in Molenbeek, one near Scaintelette, one at Van Praet and one in Heembeek. To traverse the steepest slopes more easily by bike I want to build bicycle lifts. Following the bicycle lift which has already been planned at the Kunstberg (and Coudenberg), I also have in mind the Kruidtuin and Hoogte 100 in Vorst. Many people in Brussels have no safe space at home to store their bikes. This is an important barrier for many. The government should therefore install secure bicycle lockers on a big scale. The first phase of the regional bicycle rental system has been launched with 200 stations and 2.500 bicycles. I want this system to be further expanded to 5.000 bicycles so that it will become an attractive alternative to the car everywhere in Brussels.

First-class public transport

Brussels must invest in a big way in a public transport network that is more efficient and more comfortable and does not stop at the region’s borders. To realise the enormous growth potential in numbers of travellers, new tram and underground lines must be built. The existing lines must become more frequent and respond more flexibly to the real socio-economic and cultural needs of the metropolis. Each tram line must be equipped with traffic light manipulation. Travel information on the entire MIVB/STIB network (Brussels Public Transport Authority) must be better and faster, with digital information panels which indicate the frequency in real time at every stop. Fare integration must be introduced so that users can buy one pass that will be valid for all transport companies. All young people in Brussels up to 25 must be able, without differentiation, to make use of public transport free of charge or at very low fares. This is, after all, the most direct and obvious way to familiarise young people with public transport from a very young age. I have launched the installation of access gates to make tube stations safe and to keep out fare dodgers. To combat the clogging up of the motorways in and around Brussels the NMBS/SNCF (National Railway Company of Belgium) must speed up the implementation of the Regional Express Network and accompanying measures.

The taxi as supplement to public transport 

The Brussels taxi sector must do more work on restoring trust, customer friendliness, the language skills of drivers and it must give more attention to the transport of persons with restricted mobility. I would also like to see more flexibility in terms of availability and service provision. Better integration with the traditional public transport is a must, such as the use of the mobib-card for payment. I am also in favour of adjusted tariffs during off-peak hours, a city tariff, a shopping tariff and an airport tariff. The night bus network Noctis must be further expanded and the shared taxi system Collecto must be better advertised.

A coordinated parking policy

The regional parking agency will harmonise the 19 existing municipal parking regulations, making a coherent parking management system possible. The available parking places must be reserved for residents as much as possible. New public parking facilities also need to be built in the most densely populated neighbourhoods, preferably underground so that the space above ground can be reorganised for the benefit of cyclists and pedestrians. To avoid commuters driving into the city in search of parking space we want to build large transit car parks at GEN/RER stations outside the Brussels region and smaller Park & Ride car parks near tube stations on the boundary of the region The positioning, planning phase, feasibility, financing and management of the car parks will be managed by the Regional Parking Agency. A number of zones have already been identified around the Pentagon, such as the IJzer Square and the Rouppe Square. Illegal parking must be dealt with far more firmly and residential areas must become off-limits to large trucks.

Real time mobility info and increasing car pooling

To help travellers to move about quickly in Brussels and surroundings, the region must further expand the Mobiris centre. This has been made possible thanks to the installation of additional observation cameras, dynamic traffic signs for up-to-date dedicated traffic information, variable signage on driving lanes and remotely operated traffic lights. The car pool system Cambio has been a major success in Brussels and must be further expanded and liberalised. A one-way concept (such as the bicycle rental system) with 800 environmentally-friendly cars for 15.000 users will be feasible within a few years.

Dovetail mobility and environmental planning and improve governance

When offices, businesses and houses are intermingled in a single area that is well serviced by public transport, one will be more inclined to leave one’s car in a car park. That is why I want to strengthen the link between mobility and environmental planning. The objective after all is to stimulate the diversity and density of neighbourhoods. The regional administration of Brussels must be brought under a still to be established umbrella transport community which must coordinate the projects of all the authorities and transport companies that are active in the GEN/RER-zone. To put a stop to fragmentation we must transfer authority from the 19 municipalities to the Brussels Region. And to strengthen the impact of the infrastructure policy we must integrate the federal services of Beliris with the regional administration. To better equip the local police in carrying out a real enforcement policy (particularly in relation to illegal parking and speeding), I am in favour of merging the 6 police zones into a single Brussels zone under the leadership of the Brussels minister-president.