Six out of ten Brussels residents have given up their cars and switched to car sharing, according to a study by Brussels Mobility. Car sharing is no longer a marginal phenomenon, but is gradually becoming an essential tool for reducing the number of cars in the city, including for families.
Brussels has the highest density of shared mobility services per inhabitant in Belgium, by the way, even higher than Flanders and Wallonia.
Last summer’s study surveyed over 2,200 Brussels users of Cambio (station-based cars) and Poppy (free-floating cars), and clearly demonstrates the advantages of car sharing: it’s an attractive alternative to car ownership and costs less annually. It’s flexible and drastically reduces the number of cars in the city.
Functional mix
The research shows that almost 60 percent of Cambio users and 40 percent of Poppy users have reduced the number of cars in their households since starting to car-share.
For users who combine both car-sharing services, the decline is even more pronounced (64 percent). Nearly six in ten no longer own a car at all. Without car-sharing services, the vast majority of users say they would have no choice but to buy a personal vehicle.
In addition, the survey also points to a functional mix of transport modes among car sharers: seven out of ten Cambio users and 65 percent of Poppy users have a public transport pass; a majority also say they cycle more often.
Singles and families
The research also proves that car sharing isn’t just for singles in the city. More than a third (33%) of car-sharing users are families with children. It also indicates that multimodality – combining bicycle, public transport, and car sharing depending on needs and usage – is a viable solution already chosen today by many Brussels families.
Some Brussels car-sharing residents also suggested a number of improvements, such as a larger and more diverse fleet and making the system even more family-friendly by providing child seats, bicycle racks, or trailers.
Ideally, there would be one subscription for shared cars and public transport, although this may be technically impossible.
More public space
Mobility Minister Elke Van den Brandt (Groen) is already in favor and wants to encourage Brussels residents to try car-sharing: “Every shared car reduces traffic jams and improves the distribution of public space, benefiting everyone.”
Although Belgium’s total shared-car fleet is smaller than in larger European markets, Brussels stands out within Belgium for its high availability of shared mobility options per resident, including car sharing.
The Netherlands and Germany remain among the most mature shared mobility markets in Europe, with larger fleets across many cities. Major EU capitals like Paris, Amsterdam, and Berlin may have larger fleets overall, but Brussels performs well in relative availability and reduction in car ownership among users.
