Brussels sees 'spectacular' drop in car traffic since introduction of GoodMove plan
A year after the introduction of GoodMove, the regional mobility and transport plan for the Brussels-Capital Region, car traffic in Brussels seems to be "making a spectacular move", according to Bart Dhondt, city councillor responsible for mobility. There has been a 27 per cent drop in the number of cars travelling through the centre of Brussels, while the number of cyclists has increased by 36 per cent.
The number of cars and cyclists was counted at 74 locations in Brussels at peak times on 21 October 2021, 8 November 2022 and 23 June 2023. The latest count shows a trend of fewer cars crossing the city.
Journey times unchanged
At the 36 counting points on the inner ring road (R20), car traffic has decreased by up to 20 per cent in one year. At the 44 points in the city centre, car traffic fell by 30 per cent. A total of 18,212 fewer cars were counted within the pentagon, the area inside the ring road, than before GoodMove was introduced. At the same time, journey times on the inner ring road have remained virtually unchanged, said Dhondt.
"Thanks to the GoodMove traffic plan and changes in travel habits, public space is being freed up in the city centre"
This reduction in the number of cars has been accompanied by a notable increase in the number of cyclists, with an average 36 per cent increase in the number of cyclists during peak hours at all the counting points.
"Thanks to the GoodMove traffic plan and changes in travel habits, public space is being freed up in the city centre," he said. "Many places are becoming quieter, safer and more pleasant. As a result, the city is already able to redesign public space with more greenery and more comfort for pedestrians and cyclists. This will make Brussels an even nicer place to be."
(BRV)
© BELGA PHOTO NOE ZIMMER
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