March 24, 2020
The European Commission wants to introduce so-called ‘green lanes’ or priority lanes on the main traffic axes, where trucks can cross the border within 15 minutes. As a result of border controls, traffic jams in some places in Europe reached 40 km last weekend, with waiting times of up to 18 hours. “This must stop. […]
March 24, 2020
With the current lockdown situation, the federal government is set to extend the validity of all provisional licenses as driving test centers are closed due to the coronavirus outbreak. After the green light from all Regions, a royal decree will be published in case of police checks. With the lockdown days going by, student drivers […]
March 24, 2020
London has suspended all special environmental taxes on the use of cars in the city center, starting immediately. The city had just introduced additional taxation to reduce car traffic in the city to relieve traffic congestion and improve the quality of the air. Additional taxation However, according to Mayor Sadiq Khan, people working in the […]
March 24, 2020
Flemish Minister of Mobility, Lydia Peeters (Open Vld), has asked the Agency for Maritime Services and Coast (Agentschap Maritieme Dienstverlening en Kust, AMDK) to summon a task force. This ‘Task Force Nautical Chain’, as the new working team is called, has to safeguard the supply chain of all Flemish harbors. It has to make sure […]
March 23, 2020
Mobility organization, Touring, wants to do its part in the corona crisis and is offering medical workers, police and emergency personnel free roadside assistance. “Medical staff is performing an act of heroism,” says Danny Smagghe of Touring. “We want to make sure that they get to work at any time. That is why we’ve decided […]
March 20, 2020
Irish bicycle start-up, Modmo, has announced the production of its first e-bike, the Saigon. Similar to competitors like the Belgian Cowboy bikes, Modmo’s creation is electric, app-driven, and sold online. Presales have started with delivery expected in September 2020. With the Saigon, Modmo claims to have designed ‘the bike that will replace your car for […]
March 20, 2020
The Belgian garage sector will continue to run on a limited basis in the coming weeks for breakdown assistance, and urgent repairs says sector federation Febiac. However, the activities of the car inspection centers in Flanders, Wallonia, and Brussels will be suspended until a date to be determined. Transport of patients “It is the broad […]
March 20, 2020
Lime, the platform of shared e-scooters, is removing its popular vehicles from the streets. With this measure, the company hopes to help diking in the spreading of the coronavirus. The black and green scooters will disappear from the streets in several European and American cities until further notice. “We’re putting our services on hold to […]
March 19, 2020
Walloon and Brussels police zones will receive around 25 new lidar speed cameras for free from Securoad to face the reduction in police personnel due to the Covid-19 virus outbreak. They will mostly have a preventive mission, as most machines won’t even be connected. In a letter sent to all Walloon and Brussels police zones, […]
March 19, 2020
On the Belgian highways, it was remarkably quiet on Wednesday and Thursday. Between 05.30 and 9 a.m., one of the busiest moments of the day, there were barely ten kilometers of traffic jams. Without the corona measures, there are on average 155 kilometers of traffic jams in rush hours. Less traffic It isn’t a surprise […]
March 19, 2020
In their two years of service, the TEC’s new hybrid buses have shown unexpected premature wear of electrical components. This reliability issue caused chained reactions that grounded part of the fleet due to a lack of spare parts. Walloon Mobility Minister, Philippe Henry (Ecolo), has mixed views on the new hybrid buses that now equip […]
March 19, 2020
If there is one positive thing about the coronavirus, it’s the effect on the environment. Air quality has improved in China, Italy, and even Belgium. Since the end of January, nitrogen dioxide levels in the air in China have decreased by 35%. Crystal clear water Same story in Italy, since the country was put in […]
March 19, 2020
With the traffic declining due to the coronavirus and more people are working at home, the number of roadside assistance calls received by Touring has dropped by 63%. The company plans for a further reduction of interventions with the lockdown. “Since last Thursday, we have recorded a 63% drop in calls for roadside assistance,” declares […]
March 18, 2020
With France imposing a total lockdown, and Europe closing the borders of the Schengen-zone, cross-Channel transport is adapting to the new situation. On Tuesday, Eurostar already decided to scrap half of its high-speed train connections from London with the rest of Europe. From Thursday, Eurostar will reduce its offering by 80%. This means only three […]
March 18, 2020
The Belgian public and private bus sector are under pressure because of the coronavirus. Public bus services are being adapted, and private bus companies are coming to a halt. The Belgian Federation of Bus and Coach Operators (FBAA) consulted some 320 companies. Three-quarters of the fleet, about 8 200 vehicles, is not running. “Our sector […]
March 18, 2020
Dutch visitors entering the low-emission zone in Ghent no longer have to register their cars. The cameras in the city center can recognize the license plates, and this should lower the number of infringements. Drivers of other foreign countries still need to register their cars. At the beginning of the year, the city of Ghent […]
March 17, 2020
The Dutch bureau, Move Mobility, has elaborated a new, more sophisticated calculation model for mobility problems. Research shows that investing in public transport and bikes is far more efficient against traffic jams than investing in roads for cars. “If you make public transport good enough, a part of the car users will change,” says Hans […]
March 17, 2020
Autoconcern Volkswagen has been summoned by the Dutch Diesel Emissions Justice Foundation because of the diesel scandal. That’s what the Dutch press agency ANP writes. In addition to Volkswagen, the foundation, which is committed to all registered European victims, also sues cheating software developer Robert Boch, importer Pon, and individual Dutch dealers in court in […]
March 16, 2020
As Belgium is taking far-reaching measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, the police are changing procedures for alcohol checks. They exclusively use real breath test devices and drop the samplers – a device in which the person who has to undergo the test has to blow – to detect the smell of alcohol. […]
March 13, 2020
Co.Station, the shared workspace at the parvis of Saint-Gudule in Brussels, has just launched a mobility ecosystem called co.mobility. It aims to bring out “from October 2020, concrete mobility solutions, particularly in terms of smart applications and MaaS (Mobility as a Service), but also new services and infrastructures. The objective of developing an integrated mobility […]
March 13, 2020
The advance of the Coronavirus and the severe measures governments are issuing make daily traffic jams vanish into thin air as people are opting for telework, both in Belgium and The Netherlands. According to the Flemish Traffic Center (Vlaams Verkeerscentrum) highways in Belgium and around Brussels were remarkably ‘fluid’ on Friday morning, with only 13 […]
March 13, 2020
According to a recent study from Acerta, Brussels workers finally prefer public transport to cars for their daily commute. The share of bicycles is also increasing while the number of company cars is going down. For the rest of the country, the car is still the unthreatened king for going to work. While congestion doesn’t […]
March 13, 2020
The Council of State annulled the decision of the Flemish Government on the training conditions for obtaining a driving license. With the decision, which came about because the Federal Minister of Mobility, Francois Bellot (MR), had gone to the Council in September 2017, the Flemish Government has exceeded its competence. Training course The decision of […]
March 13, 2020
BMW introduces an eDrive Zone application, which allows its plug-in hybrid cars to switch to electric mode automatically in the city. Drivers who play the game, win free minutes of electric recharging for their car. The company has chosen Switzerland, Germany, Austria, France, the Netherlands, and Belgium to launch the application. In Belgium, seven ‘eDrive […]
March 13, 2020
The organization of public transport in Antwerp will change fundamentally in the coming years. Koen Kennis, president of the Board of Regional Transport in Antwerp, and Roger Kesteloot, director-general of De Lijn, gave a more explicit explanation of the plans on Thursday. Redesigned network One of the new services will be a fast streetcar every […]
March 12, 2020
Michaël Vanloubbeeck (48), former Head of Cabinet of Federal Minister of Mobility, François Bellot (MR), is the top candidate for the CEO position at the Belgian rail network operator Infrabel. That’s what the newspaper De Tijd writes on Thursday. According to De Tijd, Odgers Berndtson, the head hunter’s office appointed by the federal government fo […]
March 12, 2020
With a very good start of the year, manufacturers foresee an increased share of electric cars for 2020. However, experts say that the beginning of the year isn’t relevant due to stock and registration manipulation. According to them, the second quarter will give better visibility of what’s to come. In France, sales of electric cars […]
March 12, 2020
Flemish Minister of Economy and Innovation, Hilde Crevits (Cd&V), has decided to attribute 7,3 million euros from the European Fund for Regional Development (Europees Fonds voor Regionale Ontwikkeling, EFRO), to three Flemish projects. Manufacturing economy The major part of the budget – 5,2 million euros – goes to a campus for the manufacturing economy in […]
March 12, 2020
Tomorrow, Friday, March 13th, the maximum speed in the Dutch highways will be lowered from 130 to 100 km per hour during the day. A measure the Dutch authorities took for ecological reasons. According to a survey by mobility organization VAB among 3 000 Belgians, a similar action in Belgium would hardly get any public […]
March 11, 2020
According to Brussels Mobility Minister, Elke Van den Brandt (Groen), the free-floating car-sharing sector is failing to work because parking is too cheap in the capital. This simplistic remark pushes Brussels deputy, Clémentine Barzin (MR), to call out the government to offer positive solutions and stop with punitive measures. While it was seen as the […]
March 11, 2020
For the first time in years, the number of new driver’s licenses issued has dropped below 100 000 in Belgium. Compared to 2018, the decline was 13,1% overall, and even 28,5% in the group of 18-year-olds. Over the last decade, the decrease was nearly 30% overall. A paradigm shift confirming itself? Last year, 97 361 […]
March 11, 2020
The Covid-19 breakout is dominating the news, but every day, a lot of people die of other diseases. According to new research of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), air pollution seems to be one of the big culprits. Air pollution shortens the average life expectancy worldwide with almost three years. Highly concentrated air pollution […]
March 11, 2020
Shared electric scooters pollute more than the modes of transport they replace. That’s the conclusion of a study led by researchers at the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB). The reason is their insufficient life span, combined with the high impact of production. The scientists investigated the use of these electric two-wheelers in Brussels. A shared […]
March 11, 2020
Q8, the company of the same name as the gas stations, has launched a new parking app. The app guides drivers to available parking places in the inner city of Antwerp. Thanks to the use of mobile data, the app can find a suitable location in real-time as close as possible to the driver’s destination. […]
March 10, 2020
Flanders will allow local authorities is to have light speeding offenses fined via the ‘GAS’ (Gemeentelijke Administratieve Sanctie) fine administrative system. These local authorities have long been criticizing speeding offenses in a zone 30 or the town center is not a priority for public prosecutors. As a result, these roads are barely controlled, and many […]
March 10, 2020
On Monday, unions have called an extraordinary national committee with management from SNCB/NMBS, Infrabel, and HR Rail regarding the coronavirus. Railway workers are worried after five cases of infection have been noted in the company. SNCB/NMBS takes measures to ensure toilets are working and equipped with water and paper on all trains. “Following the railway […]
March 10, 2020
The price of crude oil crashed due to lower demand and higher production. One barrel now costs $35, a drop of 22%. It has been since the Gulf War in the early 1990s that the price of crude oil fell so much again in one day. The lower demand is the result of the coronavirus, […]
March 10, 2020
In 2019, 304 people died in Flemish traffic, the highest number since 2016. What is striking is the increase in the number of pedestrians killed, from 32 to 44. The explanation may lie in the rise of SUVs and pickups. This is what the Flemish Foundation for Traffic Science (Vlaamse Stichting Verkeerskunde, VSV) reports on […]
March 10, 2020
Izivia is taking 77% of its Corri-Door highway public rapid charging network out of service due to safety issues with terminals’ casings. 189 out of 217 charging points will be shut down. Although Izivia didn’t count more than one charge every two days, charging requirements are expected to increase as France’s EV sales grew by […]
March 10, 2020
The growing concerns about the coronavirus are causing Kaskaesque scenes in aviation. Airline companies like KLM and EasyJet see themselves forced to fly with half-empty planes to secure their rights to fly. ‘Historic rights’ Anywhere in the world, airlines are confronted with unsold last-minute tickets, annulments, and passengers not showing up. Last week, International Air […]
March 10, 2020
The number of damaged speed cameras in Flanders has increased over the past few years. In 2016, there were 39 of them, and the number went up to 49 in 2017, 57 in 2018, and 68 in 2019. In 2019, 61 of the 68 damaged speed cameras were out of order. In 22 cases, the […]
March 09, 2020
According to a report from the auditor of the Council of State, the different driving ban depending on the vehicle induced by Brussels’ Low-Emission Zone (LEZ) would be contrary to Articles 10 and 11 of the Constitution, which provide for equality between citizens. Ever since the introduction of the low-emission zone in Brussels (LEZ), authorities […]
March 09, 2020
The bicycle is gaining popularity in Belgium. Slightly more than half (51%) of Belgians used the bicycle last year. In the previous annual survey carried out by the Vias road safety institute, this was 47%. But what the survey also shows is that cyclists adopt dangerous behaviors on the road. Popular abuses For instance, 51% […]
March 09, 2020
More and more companies are offering their employees electric company cars, pushing them away from the combustion engine. “We are coming to a turnaround,” leasing companies say. “It is happening.” Lower TCO Although in terms of price tag, electric cars are, on average, 10 000 euros more expensive than models with a classic combustion engine. […]
March 09, 2020
The number of bicycle path kilometers has been decreasing over the years: in 2017, about 143 km of new bicycle paths were installed, in 2018, hardly 60 km. “Pitiful results,” concludes MP Annick Lambrecht (sp.a). “If we want to convince Flemish cyclists to use the bike more often, we have to guarantee safe and comfortable […]
March 09, 2020
The Flemish Minister of Economy, Hilde Crevits (CD&V), is planning to invest 4,25 million euros of European money in the installation of nine additional mobility points, of which six in Flemish Brabant. The so-called ‘mobi points’ are hubs where several modes of transport are brought together: a train station, a bus stop, a charging point, […]
March 09, 2020
At the canceled Geneva show, Renault was ready to show the Morphoz concept car. As the name suggests, the vehicle can change according to the needs of its passengers. It’s Renault’s vision on personal and shared mobility for 2025 and beyond. Morphoz sits on Renault’s future, a modular electric platform CMF-EV that will be used […]
March 06, 2020
As the Brussels government greenlights the ambitious Good Move plan, experts, including the Brussels Chamber of Commerce, shine a light on the lack of numbers and budget for any of the 50 measures. “The Iris2 plan was simply unrealistic and failed. We are now seeing its successor, the Good Move plan, but we note that […]
March 06, 2020
The international aviation federation, IATA, estimates that the coronavirus will cost the sector at least 63 billion dollars (56 billion euros). When the virus spreads further, this amount can go up to 100 billion euros. These figures only relate to passenger flights. Canceled flights A lot of airline companies try to compensate for the decreasing […]
March 05, 2020
Brussels is lagging in terms of electric cars. Despite the promised 100 new charging points, the government has no clear path to increase the number of EVs and reach its emissions objectives. Experts worry that traffic restrictions will be put up without quality alternatives for citizens and companies. “In Brussels, air quality is urgent. Alain […]
March 05, 2020
The city of Antwerp has bought a scan-car that can automatically scan the number plates of parked vehicles, and detect whether they are vehicles with a resident’s card or parking ticket, or vehicles parked without paying. The scan-car should make it possible to check the considerably extended zone of paid parking in the city last […]
March 05, 2020
Dutch buyers of new electric cars will receive a 4 000 euros subsidy as of this summer. Those who buy a used car are eligible for 2 000 euros. That is what Stientje van Veldhoven, Dutch Minister for Environment and Housing (D66), wrote in a letter to the House of Representatives on Wednesday. 250 million […]
March 05, 2020
The car remains the most popular means of transport for commuting for Belgian employees working in the private sector. For most commuting trips (77,5%), a car is involved. More women After stagnation in 2018, last year the number of employees with a company car increased from 19,6% to 20,6%. That is one of the conclusions […]
March 04, 2020
Bart Somers, Flemish Minister for Internal Affairs (Open Vld), wants to push local governments to enable the roll-out of at least one EV charging point per 200 inhabitants by 2025. For 6,5 million Flemish, that would mean 34 000 public charging points. It’s not pep talk only, but he also promises them financial support out […]
March 04, 2020
This year, the city of Mechelen will invest almost two million euros in shared cars, cargo bikes, and scooters. “We want to become the forerunner when it comes to shared mobility.” As of April, inhabitants of the city who turn in their license plate will be rewarded with a mobility budget. Mechelen already is one […]
March 04, 2020
An elementary school in Courtrai has launched an original initiative. The school offers a so-called ‘limo service’. Parents are encouraged to drop their children at the school gate, and then a valet is taking care of the children. This way, the parents don’t have to step out of the car. They just wave goodbye, and […]
March 03, 2020
Managing Director at Espaces-Mobilité, Xavier Tackoen, wonders why shared mobility isn’t taking off, especially for cars. He points out that shared mobility is still a niche in spite of being seen as the Holy Grail that would save urban mobility. He points the finger to placement, information, and the lack of help from public authorities. […]
March 03, 2020
For the first time, the emission standards for fine particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide in Brussels did not exceed the norms set by the European Union. Some measuring stations even met the recommendations of the World Health Organisation (WHO), which are much stricter than those of the EU and which are followed by Brussels. With […]
March 03, 2020
The decision to bring the maximum speed on the Dutch highways down to 100 km per hour will cost the state 19 million euros. That’s the estimation made by the Ministry of Waterways and Public Works (Rijkswaterstaat, RWS). Earlier estimates expected an investment of about 7 million euros. The Dutch recently decided to reduce the […]
March 02, 2020
The Brussels Region will start its 2020 road-resurfacing program this month for a total cost of five million euros. In addition to that much-needed work, Brussels launches an ambitious 3D-scan project to help create maps and databases for more efficient management. “It’s important because the comfort but also the safety of all users depends on […]
