Thirty-six Flemish organizations call for modal shift in city mobility

Some 36 action groups and citizens’ initiatives, united as the Modal Shift Coalition (MSC), want politicians to work harder on the modal shift for Flemish cities with higher quality of life. In other words, there should be more space for pedestrians and cyclists, fewer cars, and more public transport and shared mobility.

The call comes in the wake of the municipal elections in Belgium on October 13th and primarily advocates for a modal shift in the Antwerp Transport Region. However, the coalition is also calling on people to sign a petition because it wants to explain several proposals to improve modal shift by 2030 in the Flemish parliament.

More space for walkers and cyclists

According to the coalition, many measures are needed to realize the modal shift. For example, walking must be made pleasant for everyone. “We want everyone, young and old or with disabilities, to be able to walk safely and carefree anytime, anywhere, for short and long journeys,” it says.

The coalition also calls for more space for cyclists. Many bike lanes, for example, have become too narrow. “Make them wide and safe, even if that means eliminating parking spaces.”

Public transport = top priority

Another no-brainer in the list of demands is to make public transport a top priority. If you know that the total Belgian government spending on transportation is 15.1 billion euros (figures for 2022) and that the lion’s share of that goes to highways.

For example, ensure that travelers can transfer with one ticket, that every intersection prioritizes buses and streetcars, research the construction of express streetcars, and weave around every train station a web of streetcar, bus, and bicycle connections.

The example of Switzerland is also discussed here: the closer a streetcar or bus stop is, the fewer people choose the car. An impoverishment of public transport, which we currently see throughout Flanders, is at odds with this.

A less car-oriented society

In general, the initiators especially want a society that is less car-oriented. After all, according to them, the car is still overly favored. Therefore, they want the 4 billion euros tax benefits for salary cars to shift to De Lijn and the NMBS/SNCB and abolish tank and charge cards.

“Offer employees a mobility budget for public transport or bicycles and introduce road pricing. That way, you encourage people to use their cars less.” Even a maximum speed limit of 100 km/hour during the day on highways would bring many gains in mobility costs, air quality, and road safety.

In very different policy areas at the federal, Flemish, and local levels, there should be one big goal in terms of spatial planning: to develop cities tailored to human movement and meeting, with footpaths, bike lanes, and public transport as standard, with softening and greening also central.

“Actually, it’s very simple,” the coalition argues. “Those who invest in footpaths attract walkers. Whoever invests in bike lanes attracts cyclists. Those who invest in public transportation attract new travelers. In short, those who want clean air and pleasant, livable neighborhoods invest in modal shift.”