Ghent, a city pioneering sustainable mobility…

A city owes its vibrancy largely to the fact that people often move around in it: from home to work, from work to the shops, from home to the crèche and then to school, from one campus to the next, from home to the gym, from the cinema to a café, from one shop to the next, going for a jog, walking the dog...

All this movement contributes to a bustling city and pleasant meetings with acquaintances, but the way in which we move around can also cause nuisance and danger. To give free rein to car and truck traffic in a medium-sized city such as Ghent with a street pattern dating from the Middle Ages to the 16th Century, would inevitably have led to gridlock. That is why the City Council of Ghent has made fundamental political choices in the area of mobility, and the outcomes indicate that these were the right choices. Today we not only have a well thought-out mobility plan with the largest pedestrian zone in Belgium, but we are also busy with the expansion of a public transport network that is accessible, reliable and affordable as well as a number of successful interventions to stimulate cycling. Walking, cycling and using public transport are cheaper, better for the environment, take up less space and often use less time (fewer traffic jams). Cycling and walking are also healthier.

Nevertheless, those who still need to travel by car in the city will find a well-balanced parking system with well-equipped parking areas at their disposal. This makes our city the absolute leader in Flanders in respect of mobility, road safety and traffic liveability.

The central location of Ghent at the intersection of important motorways, railway lines and waterways is a boon for our city, making it an interesting setting for businesses, educational and welfare institutions and other organisations. But this coin also has another side: all this traffic produces significant quantities of fine dust particles and CO² emissions.

However much we try to play a pioneering role in Ghent in the fight against the greenhouse effect, it goes without saying that only far-reaching measures on a global scale can bring any relief. Which does not mean that we as a medium-sized city cannot play our part! That is why we continue implementing a consistent policy to discourage, in a gradual and well-considered way, the use transport means that consume fossil fuels. This despite the fact that precisely in Ghent the car and truck industry offers a livelihood to thousands of employees and forms a significant source of income for the city budget. 

Is this then political suicide? I do not think so. I am convinced that with a delicate approach and reasonable arguments we can move towards a fundamental mindset change among road users and businesses. Indeed we have no other choice, if we want to prevent an ecological catastrophe.

From the numerous discussions I have with business leaders I have learned that the business world is aware of the need for a radical change of direction. More and more companies see opportunities and possibilities for an innovative leap forward in this! And this brings me to another spearhead of our policy: innovation. With our university, our polytechnics, our leading research centres and our spin-off businesses, the city of Ghent is an ideal growth environment for scientific progress and cutting-edge technology. I am convinced that the future of our economy lies in developing low-energy and environmentally-friendly means of transport, consumer goods and fuels.

As one of the first cities of Flanders the City Council of Ghent has worked out a long-term vision. In a number of ambitious key strategic objectives we have mapped out where we want our city to be in 2020. No less and no more than today Ghent wants to play a leading role in the development of a sustainable, united and open society. To make this ambition a reality we want to make space for all creative forces because the answer to the enormous challenges that are bearing down on us – also in respect of mobility – lies in the combination of creation and innovation...