Flanders: ‘More than twice as many trajectory speed controls by end 2023’

September 25, 2023

The number of average speed controls on Flemish roads is increasing rapidly. Newspaper De Tijd reports that, according to a survey by Het Laatste Nieuws and news channel VTM, 159 trajectory speed checks are operational today. By the end of the year, this number will more than double to 349. Average or trajectory speed checks […]

Modal Shift Coalition pleads for sustainable mobility in Antwerp

September 25, 2023

Twenty-six Antwerp action groups have joined forces and launched an election memorandum on Friday about mobility in the province of Antwerp. The memorandum calls for a “catch-up” effort, including “substantial investments” in public transport and pedestrian and cycling facilities. According to the activists, the promised “modal shift” to at least 50% of journeys that must […]

Wallonia gets 11 extra Carpool car parks

September 25, 2023

By 2026, Wallonia will get 11 additional Carpool car parks for 1 118 spaces. Wallonia will thus have a total of almost 5 000 Carpool spaces. The news has been reported by the newspaper La Capital, based on information from Walloon Mobility and Infrastructure Minister Philippe Henry (Ecolo). 30% more Today, Wallonia has almost 3 […]

Telework saves Belgians 34 million kilometers of daily commuting

September 22, 2023

Teleworking will save an estimated 36 million kilometers of commuting this year. This is according to a survey of 3 750 Belgian workers conducted by the FPS Mobility. One in three Belgians says they telework at least one day a week. Teleworking, a new work habit since the coronavirus crisis, would also change mobility habits […]

Will Brussels partly fund €4,7 billion for Metro 3 line by road pricing?

September 21, 2023

Brussels Finance and Budget Minister Sven Gatz (Open Vld) wants part of the funding for the construction of Metro 3 to come from SmartMove, the Brussels road pricing scheme. This is stated in a note on budgetary projections until 2030 that he has put on the government table. Both the new metro line and the […]

GreenStudent: ‘affordable e-car sharing for Belgian students’

September 21, 2023

GreenMobility, the Antwerp-based platform for shared e-cars, wants to make car sharing affordable and sustainable for students. With the special GreenStudent subscription, they can now travel cheaply all year round with a minimal ecological footprint. The GreenStudent subscription gives students access to 100% electric cars at any time of the day. They receive a 10% […]

Greenpeace: ‘Europe invested 66% more in roads than rail last 30 years’

September 20, 2023

Since 1995, European countries have invested 66% more in highways than rail connections. “We spend more money on means of transport that emit the most greenhouse gases,” says Joeri Thijs, spokesperson for Greenpeace. Greenpeace Central en Eastern Europe requested a study by the Wuppertal Institute and think tank T3 Transportation. That study revealed that over […]

Mobia’s Mobility Day shows vital need to better inform general public

September 20, 2023

At the second Mobility Stakeholders Day of the Belgian mobility federation Mobia on Tuesday in Brussels, guest speaker professor Dave Sinardet made those ‘stakeholders’ face the facts that there is a considerable gap to be bridged between the sector and the general public when it comes to the importance of everyday mobility issues and the […]

Brussels Car-Free Sunday reduces NOx by 77 to 97%

September 20, 2023

The Car-Free Sunday in Brussels again positively impacted air quality and reduced noise pollution. So says the Brussels public service Brussels Environment. On the 23rd Car-Free Sunday, concentrations of nitrogen monoxide and dioxide dropped by 95 and 77%, respectively, compared to a normal Sunday. Readings were taken on Regent Avenue, a spot near Arts-Loi/Kunst-Wet where […]

Schiphol to build Netherlands’ largest EV-ready car rental facility

September 19, 2023

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport has started the construction of a brand-new Car Rental Service Center. It will be the Netherlands’ largest car rental company facility, accommodating about 2 500 vehicles and able to charge some 300 EVs simultaneously. The building is expected to be finished by the end of 2024. Schiphol is transforming the former P4 […]

VBO-FEB pleads for more efficiency as traffic jams cost €4,8 billion

September 19, 2023

In 2022, traffic congestion cost the Belgian economy 4,8 billion euros due to lost time, extra fuel consumption, and higher emissions of CO2 and harmful gases. The Federation of Belgian Enterprises (VBO- FEB) reports this based on Stabel and the Federal Planning Bureau data. Mobility has changed in recent years. Teleworking has taken hold, especially […]

Dutch don’t rush to grab ‘skimmed’ EV subsidy

September 19, 2023

In The Netherlands, considered one of Europe’s most advanced countries in EV adoption, the enthusiasm to switch to an electric car seems lower than expected. After nine months, the subsidy pot of 100 million euros still has 43 million left. In former years, that subsidy pot was generally plundered by the end of May. Only […]

Belgium goes for national register against bicycle theft

September 18, 2023

In January, there will be a central bicycle register in Belgium to fight bicycle theft. Federal Mobility Minister Georges Gilkinet (Ecolo) confirmed this in Le Soir newspaper, among others. It is one of the showpieces of the ‘Be Cyclist’ program, which aims to promote the use of bicycles through a series of 52 measures. The […]

Acerta: ‘One in six Belgian employees gets bicycle allowance’

September 18, 2023

Today, 1,62% of Belgian employees has a leased bike to commute. That is one-quarter more than last year (1,29%) and more than ever. The figures come from HR service provider Acerta and are based on a survey among 320 000 employees working in 37 000 private sector companies. The reason for this extensive study was […]

Aral targets 20 000 fast-charging stations in Germany by 2030

September 15, 2023

British oil company BP continues to set ambitious targets for its network of ultra-fast charging stations. By 2030, it wants to roll out 20 000 High Power Charging (HPC) points for cars and a network of low-carbon mobility hubs for medium and heavy-duty vehicles. It will do this with Germany’s largest service station network, Aral, […]

Stellantis’ Leasys offcially entering Belgian market

September 15, 2023

Leasys, the 50/50 joint venture between multinational automotive company Stellantis and the French Crédit Agricole Consumer Finance, is a multi-brand leasing company operational in eleven European countries. This week, Leasys Belgium was officially presented. The new company intends to take advantage of the changes in the market and maximize its presence. According to the press […]

SD Worx study: ‘Long commute is no reason to change jobs’

September 14, 2023

According to a study by HR service provider SD Worx among 1 000 working Belgians, commuting is not a reason to change employers. However, some people have a very long morning and evening commute. Those who live in East Flanders spend the longest time commuting (daily average of 59 minutes), followed by those living in […]

Brussels Airlines launches tenth long-haul aircraft for Nairobi

September 13, 2023

After a nine-year absence, Brussels Airlines will again fly to the Kenyan capital Nairobi in June. To do so, it will deploy a new aircraft, an Airbus A330, now the airline’s tenth long-haul aircraft. It will also increase the number of flights to the Rwandan capital, Kigali, from five to seven a week. The ramping […]

Brussels Region Europe’s largest Car Free Zone for one day

September 13, 2023

On 17 September, the 19 municipalities of the Brussels-Capital Region, like 40 Flemish cities and municipalities, will organize another Car Free Sunday. The entire region will be closed to car traffic on that day from 9.30 a.m. to 7 p.m., making it the largest car-free zone in Europe. The service of the Brussels public transport […]

Gotthard tunnel closed due to 25-meter crack in ceiling

September 11, 2023

The Gotthard tunnel, at 16,9 km the longest road tunnel in Switzerland, has been closed since Sunday. The reason is a crack in the ceiling of the tunnel, which is popular with motorists driving to and from Italy. Chunks of concrete landed on the road, but no one was injured, said FEDRO, the Swiss agency […]

Mozilla Foundation warns: ‘Carmakers even collect info about your sex life’

September 11, 2023

A recent Mozilla Foundation study reveals some shocking facts, and 25 car manufacturers deserve the ‘Privacy Not Included’ warning label in the United States. According to the study, cars have become data-gobbling machines that watch, listen, and collect information about what you do and where you go. While we worry that our connected doorbells or […]

Flanders clears way for tramline Brussels North Station and airport

September 11, 2023

The permit for the Airport Tram, which will connect Brussels Airport to Brussels, has been granted by Flemish Environment Minister Zuhal Demir (N-VA). Construction works could start in late 2025 to early 2026. The Brussels Region had already issued planning permission for the Brussels section of the future inter-regional tram line to the national airport. […]

Lucien expands with Fietsen King’s Danish cargo bikes

September 08, 2023

Lucien, the bicycle shop chain under the wings of Belgian’s most significant car importer D’Ieteren, is expanding its territory again with the recent acquisition of ‘Fietsen King’ in Louvain. It will be the 17th Lucien shop. Until now, D’Ieteren’s bicycle subsidiary was mainly active in and around Brussels, Antwerp, and Ghent. Later this year, the […]

Police office and alcohol ban to ‘clear’ Brussels South Station

September 08, 2023

There will be a specific police office, more patrols, and an alcohol ban at Brussels South Station to tackle drug and security problems. These are some of the 22 concrete actions agreed between the federal and Brussels governments, the municipalities of Saint-Gilles and Anderlecht, and railway company NMBS/SNCB, under the coordination of the National Crisis […]

EU Commission calls for European-wide disability card

September 07, 2023

The European Commission calls for introducing a standardized disability card recognized throughout the European Union’s 27 member states. The card should simplify travel and free movement for people with disabilities across Europe, one of the core rights of the bloc. “The rights of people with disabilities must not stop at national borders,” says EU Commission […]

Floya: entire Brussels multimodal mobility offer in one app

September 07, 2023

The Brussels public transport company MIVB/STIB and Brussels Mobility have launched the new multimodal app, Floya. Now available in the app stores, the app brings together information on the entire mobility offer in Brussels on one platform. Users can thus see all possible travel options at a glance. According to MIVB/STIB, the app Evident/Trafi developed […]

Flanders allocates €2 million for ‘smart charging solutions’

September 07, 2023

Flemish Minister of Mobility and Public Works Lydia Peeters (Open VLD) has launched a call for innovative pilot projects on charging infrastructure. She allocates two million euros for this. The call focuses on exploratory and innovative pilot projects of a limited scale that can be scaled up afterward: mobile charging systems, private shared charging systems, […]

Wallonia finally approves 2025 car tax reform (update)

September 06, 2023

On Wednesday, Wallonia’s road tax reform was voted in the plenary session of the Walloon parliament. Pushed by Mobility Minister Philippe Henry (Ecolo), the reform has been modified. It aims at taxing cars at registration not only based on their engine size and CO2 emissions but also their weight, which also affects electric vehicles. Taxes […]

Brussels residents more afraid in traffic due to shared e-mobility

September 06, 2023

You don’t have to live in Brussels for road safety, and certainly not since the rise of electric shared mobility. As many as 64% of Brussels residents blame the rising number of road accidents on this trend. More than half (54%) of the capital’s residents also think shared e-mobility, such as rental e-scooters, should be […]

New night train connection between Brussels and Berlin from December

September 06, 2023

German railway operator Deutsche Bahn and the Austrian Federal Railways ÖBB will launch a new night train connection from Berlin and Vienna to Paris and Brussels in December. Öbb’s ‘Nightjet’ already connects the Austrian capital Vienna with Brussels. The company intends to launch a nighttime connection between Brussels and the German capital Berlin in December. […]

Rome follows Brussels and drastically reduces e-scooters

September 05, 2023

Rome has not gone as far as Paris, but instead of a total ban, the Eternal City, following the example of Brussels, is limiting the number of rental e-scooters from 14 500 to 9 000 from 1 September. At the same time, the city is also implementing new rules to regulate the use of the […]

ALD/LeasePlan Belgium and Moovee launch B2B car sharing

September 05, 2023

ALD Automotive/LeasePlan introduces B2B car sharing in Belgium with Moovee, specializing in shared mobility. This way, the European leader wants to offer companies affordable, flexible, and green transport solutions for their employees. Cars are stationary 95% of the time. So, sharing a car is a sustainable way to optimize car use. The leasing company offers […]

Flanders makes GPS use mandatory part of practical driving exam

September 05, 2023

Driving according to the guidelines of a GPS will become a mandatory part of the practical driving test as of October 1st. So, candidate drivers will not only have to prove they can complete a course by following the traffic signs but also according to the instructions of a navigation device. Drivers need to be […]

TreinTramBus denounces scrapped De Lijn bus policy

September 04, 2023

Passenger organization TreinTramBus complains about the ongoing uncertainty and lack of clarity about the number of rides De Lijn is cutting. According to TreinTramBus, the Flemish public transport company is cutting supply in some places more severely than the announced 0,75%. The organization also calls De Lijn’s communication “inferior”. Due to a lack of drivers, […]

VDL’s bus division is loss-making

September 04, 2023

Dutch industrial group VDL has seen turnover from its bus division fall 40% in the first six months, from 251 million euros a year ago to 153 million euros at the end of June. This is shown in the group’s income statement. The division is also loss-making, but for how much VDL does not share. […]

Work on a narrowed Brussels’ Avenue Van Praet starts today

September 04, 2023

This Monday, one of the biggest projects of this legislature is officially starting: the two-way layout of Avenue Van Praet, the northern gateway to the Belgian capital. The companies along the canal fear the worst. “Having a single entry lane to Brussels instead of three is impossible,” they say. The road works come on top […]

McLaren Applied acquires bust Dutch VanMoof e-bikes

September 01, 2023

On Thursday, the British e-scooter manufacturer Lavoie, backed by Formula 1 supplier McLaren Applied, announced that it will acquire the recently bankrupt VanMoof e-bike business. Lavoie intends to combine and integrate their capabilities “to create a next-generation e-mobility business and establish a world-leading premium e-mobility offering”. The move is part of Lavoie’s global growth strategy […]

Belgium to revoke 15-minute waiting period before alcohol test

September 01, 2023

Mobility Minister Georges Gilkinet (Ecolo) is to amend the existing breath test procedure. The possibility of requesting a 15-minute waiting period will be abolished, and the minimum volume of exhaled air will be reduced. Gilkinet has submitted the faster and more efficient measure to the regions and hopes it can come into effect by the […]

Paris says adieu to rental e-scooter, Brussels to follow?

August 31, 2023

In Paris, one of 15 000 shared e-scooters can be ridden for the last time today. From September 1st, they will be banned from the French capital, a result of the outcome of a binding referendum held in April. The rental e-scooters were said to cause too much chaos on pavements and unsafe traffic situations. […]

MIVB/STIB opens new tram line in Brussels

August 30, 2023

Brussels public transport operator MIVB/STIB has officially declared tram line 18 open. The tram line has Albert station in Forest as its terminus. That station should become a multimodal hub for Brussels public transport. By 2030, three tram lines should converge there, as should the future metro line 3. Albert station, located next to Forest […]

Ghent goes for big cycling festival and congress

August 30, 2023

Next summer, Ghent wants to organize Velo-city, a significant cycling festival and congress. The city council has set aside 180 000 euros for it. The highlight should be a bike ride with 2 000 participants. From 18 to 21 June 2024, Ghent will briefly be the epicenter of international cycling. The major cycling conference Velo-city […]

Resistance grows now almost all of London is ultra-low-emission zone

August 29, 2023

As earlier announced, London is expanding its environmental zone. Almost all of London will become an ultra-low-emission zone (ULEZ) as of today. The measure is intended to tackle pollution, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve the air quality for residents and visitors. But not everybody is happy with the new ultra-low-emission zone because it will […]

Vias: ‘Far fewer traffic deaths on Belgian roads in 2023’

August 28, 2023

The number of road deaths in Belgium decreased by 21% in the first six months of the year compared to last year. Last year, 287 people died in traffic on Belgian roads, this year ‘only’ 227. Yet an average of nine people still die on Belgian roads every week, which remains far too many. The […]

Police makes clean sweep at Brussels South station

August 28, 2023

A major police operation occurred Saturday in and around Brussels South railway station. Some 60 people were arrested, most of whom were migrants without legal residence. The action came after complaints in recent weeks about nuisance and insecurity and a cry for help from national railway company NMBS/SNCB and the Brussels Capital Region. As a […]

Wallonia regulates shared e-scooters and bikes in public spaces

August 25, 2023

The Walloon government has adopted a decree to regulate fleets of shared bicycles and e-scooters in cities and to ensure more sustainable management. The text provides for the Region to grant licenses only to operators who meet various technical requirements, such as vehicle characteristics, but also the sustainability of fleet management. The Walloon municipalities will […]

Driver shortages force De Lijn to cut number of rides

August 25, 2023

Staff shortages continue to trouble the Flemish public transport company De Lijn. From 1 September, it will temporarily and structurally cancel certain rides across Flanders due to staff shortages. According to De Lijn, around 0,75% of all journeys are affected. The Flemish transport company stressed that bus lines and school rides will be safeguarded. “The […]

Dutch ‘dynamic’ electricity supplier Frank Energie targets Belgium

August 24, 2023

Frank Energie, a new Dutch energy supplier, wants to conquer Belgium after the Netherlands, with dynamic hourly prices to allow EV owners to charge at home when prices are at their lowest, for instance. CEO Hans van der Woude does not hide his ambitions: After further growth in Belgium, Spain, and France, the start-up wants […]

Renault’s Plug Inn app opens up sharing of private charging points

August 23, 2023

Renault developed the Plug Inn app to bring electric car users from any brand together in the hope of a better and easier charging solution. The app allows users to open up their smart private charge point at home to other users and monetize it. This community-based app is available in France. In Belgium, there’s […]

Belgian public transport sector desperately looking for drivers

August 23, 2023

Belgian public transport companies continue to struggle to find drivers. MIVB/STIB, NMBS/SNCB, De Lijn, and Walloon counterpart TEC are all struggling to find drivers for their trams, trains, and buses due to stiff competition, with the transport sector also facing driver shortages. The big fear here, of course, remains that the supply quality will come […]

Dutch insurers exclude fat bikes due to numerous thefts

August 22, 2023

For the time being, Dutch insurer ANWB will stop ensuring fat bikes, electrically powered bicycles with thicker tires. The insurer says it is doing so because of the “extremely high” number of stolen fat bikes. The financial damage recovered from insurance has now risen to 800% of the premium, says ANWB. “This is not bearable […]

‘Blade Runners’ destroy 387 London ULEZ cameras in four months

August 21, 2023

Since local authorities in London decided to expand the ultra-low-emission zone (ULEZ) to improve the air quality, 387 ULEZ cameras have been destroyed, obscured, or stolen between April and mid-August. The majority was vandalized in outer London, where the zone was expanded. A shadowy group called the ‘Blade Runners’ is believed to be responsible for […]

Belgian Rail asks for help in security problems Brussels South Station

August 21, 2023

Sophie Dutordoir, CEO of Belgian railways NLBS/SNCB, has asked local, regional, and federal authorities to help tackle the growing safety and cleanliness problems at Brussels South Station, with around 60 000 daily travelers, one of Belgium’s busiest train stations. The mix of many travelers, tourists, drug addicts, more asylum seekers, as well as empty buildings […]

One year Good Move in Brussels: 27% fewer cars, 36% more cyclists

August 17, 2023

27% fewer cars in the Brussels Pentagon and also 36% more cyclists: these are the striking figures the City of Brussels can present after exactly one year of Good Move, the Regional Mobility and Circulation Plan for the Brussels Capital Region. “Brussels is thus becoming an even nicer place to be,” says a satisfied Bart […]

Vilvoorde viaduct restoration starts for next eight years

August 16, 2023

On Wednesday, the renovation works on the viaduct in Vilvoorde started. The restoration will take eight years, as announced in March, and the heaviest traffic disruption is expected between 2027 and 2031. The cost is estimated at over 500 million euros. The Viaduct Zeekanaal Brussel-Schelde, as the bridge is officially called, is one of the […]

Double of IC trains between Belgium and the Netherlands by end 2024

August 16, 2023

At the end of 2024, 32 instead of 16 intercity trains will run daily between Brussels and the Netherlands. Dutch railway company NS and its Belgian counterpart NMBS/SNCB report this. New, faster trains, with a maximum speed of 200 kph, will be used. They’ll stop less often, making the journey between Brussels and Amsterdam in […]

Amterdam installs ‘noise trap cameras’ to catch boisterous motorbikes

August 15, 2023

The city of Amsterdam has had enough of noisy cars and motorbikes and is taking measures to fight the noise nuisance. The city will introduce an experiment and install noise displays in particular spots in the city center. Later this month, sound meters and noise speed cameras will be added, and finally, noisemakers will be […]

Four out of ten Dutch citizens against owning a car

August 14, 2023

More than four out of ten Dutch citizens think their country has to eliminate the idea that everyone has to own a car. Energy provider Zonneplan did a panel survey of 2002 Dutch inhabitants about their views on car possession. The most popular argument against car possession is the high environmental impact of the car […]

California allows paid robotaxi rides in San Francisco 24/7

August 11, 2023

Robotaxi companies Waymo and Cruise can deploy paid taxi rides in San Francisco every day of the week, night and day. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) made the decision after a seven-hour public hearing. For autonomous driving companies, the approval is a capital step forward. Driverless robotaxis were already allowed in San Francisco for […]

Dutch rail continues to struggle as passengers stay away

August 11, 2023

Dutch Railways NS continues to struggle to win back passengers. Passenger numbers are still well below pre-corona levels, making NS loss-making again in the first half of the year. Whether NS will win back passengers in the coming years and sell enough tickets to cover all operation costs remains to be seen. For instance, the […]

Gezinsbond proposes children traveling for free instead of train discount card

August 11, 2023

The Belgian Rail’s discount card for large families will disappear permanently in 2025. That is why the Gezinsbond, a non-profit organization that defends the interests of families, launches a new proposal allowing parents to take their children on the train for free as long as they live at home. After all, the train is an […]