Flemish Commuter Fund for more sustainable mobility

Flanders ​ is making 2.1 million euros available to companies and organisations that set up projects to make transport between the workplace and public transport more sustainable, for example by purchasing folding bicycles. Flemish Minister of Mobility Lydia Peeters explains that this so-called last mile is often a reason for people to opt for the car.

The new call for projects is part of the Commuter Fund. This fund supports companies, organisations and authorities that take initiatives to make commuting more sustainable. Projects that reduce the number of car trips for commuting purposes are eligible for the subsidy. This time, the focus is on the so-called last mile.

Special attention is also paid to cooperation between companies, preferably located on business parks. "We are not only looking at large companies, we also encourage small and medium-sized companies to submit projects," says Minister Peeters. "Finally, we also want to give extra encouragement to innovative bicycle stimulating projects. Think of the development of an app for reserving shared bicycles for commuting, a bicycle locker system and innovative sharing systems."

Companies and organisations that want to submit a project must apply for a file number at www.pendelfonds.be before 1 June 2022. They then have until 1 September 2022 to complete the grant application. The subsidy amounts to a maximum of half of the costs related to the implementation of the project, with a maximum of 200,000 euros if a company submits an application on its own. This maximum amount increases depending on whether the project is submitted by two or more companies. The project duration is minimum 2 and maximum 4 years.

© BELGA PHOTO (OLIVER BERG) Woman presents a foldable bike in front of Cologne Cathedral, Germany.