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Chaos for motorists on first day of pedestrian zone
The first weekday of Brussels’ new pedestrian zone was marked by quiet in the zone itself but traffic chaos on the new loop around the zone, extending as far as the inner ring and the Basilique tunnel.
The new zone, which opened at the weekend, doubles the area of central Brussels now barred to road traffic and creates a new mini-ring leading drivers around the zone. As expected, the new routes are unfamiliar to drivers, leading to major traffic jams. In addition, the start of the new car-free zone coincided with surface work on the Schuman metro station, which added to the confusion on Rue de la Loi, one of the most-used approach roads to the city centre.
At one point yesterday morning, it took motorists 90 minutes to travel from Avenue Charles-Quint in Koekelberg to Rogier, and the problems continued on the inner ring, as drivers used the ring to get from one side of the city to the other rather than use Avenue Anspach (pictured), now closed to traffic.
Motorists are expected to adapt to the new conditions in the coming weeks, said Inge Paemen of Bruxelles Mobilité. “It’s too early to draw conclusions,” she said. “Traffic needs time to adapt. That could take two or three weeks.” Brussel Mobiliteit has advised motorists to use public transport in the meantime.
Pascal Smet, minister for mobility in the Brussels-Capital Region, said that the new plan could not be assessed until September when normal traffic levels resume after the summer holidays. Making any conclusions or changes at this early stage would make no sense, he told the infrastructure committee of Brussels parliament.
Smet suggested one radical change, however: Turn the entire inner-city pentagon into a car-free zone. “Whether it’s Rue Dansaert and surrounding streets or the beguinage area, we have to create a slower city,” he told FM Brussel. The new car-free zone should extend from Avenue Charles-Quint, in the area of the Central Station, all the way to the canal, he said.
Photo by Bruno Fahy/BELGA
Comments
What on earth is the point of a deserted city centre with traffic backed up for hours churning out pollution all around it? it was literally hell on wheels yesterday. Every intersection blocked. Rue de la Loi closed at Schuman and almost impossible to leave the city via the E17 with Belliard reduced from 6 lanes to 3 wth only one lane access to the tunnel. Public transport? Even the buses and trams couldn't get through because their access was blocked by confused car drivers. Oh and not a flic to be seen anywhere . If this is traffic planning?? Pascal Smet and his crew are incompetent idiots.
A phrase springs to mind which includes the words 'brewery' and 'piss-up'.
I was stuck for HOURS in tunnels yesterday: TOTAL MADNESS!!!
Jeremy Clarkson for Transport Minister.
He's got a bit of time on his hands at the moment.
Alan, could you please, please, please use the FR version of the streets when writing these articles. I realise you must be under pressure from someone up on high at your paper, but it's frustrating and time consuming to have to try to decipher what you write. At least make it bi-lingual.
I agree about the fact that those making mobility policy in this countries are idiots! I never saw any police giving fines to trucks or cars parked on the lanes for circulation. Including during yesterday's chaos! And please someone should tell them that in all civilised countries garbage is picked up between midnight and 5am NOT during the rush hour!
Does anybody in this city ever question the need to use their car? It seems that many people will not even consider public transport as "it's not good enough for them". Can you imagine that attitude working in London or Paris? Until that mentality changes, the city will remain jam-packed. If car drivers started to shift to public transport, demand would increase, and the service would improve for everybody (more buses and trams, better routes, etc.).
Personally was around palais du justice and it was fine that way. The reason people don't use public transport is first they all get cars with jobs due to stupidly high taxation, second there isn't a joined up transport service unless you live with in the Brussels communes and even then it's patchy. I can for example get to other Flemish communes from Overijse even as far as leuven but god forbid I want to go anywhere French speaking like the next town waver, or Brussels. gellis bi lingual is better but demanding French names dear dear don't say that loudly in a Flemish area.
1970s in Brussels: Everyone complained when they couldn't park their cars on Grand Place anymore.