Drongen residents protest as two bus lines disappear from their neighborhood

Residents in the Varendries and Luchteren areas of Ghent's Drongen district are protesting against significant cuts to public transport. The changes, implemented by the Flemish transport company De Lijn, will see bus line 12B completely removed from their neighborhoods starting July 1.

This removal will eliminate about seven bus stops in Varendries, disrupting access to essential services like the sports hall and Drongen station. Additionally, the nearest stop for bus line 50 will be moved 1.5 kilometers away, raising concerns that the neighborhoods will become entirely dependent on cars. Approximately 130 residents reportedly use bus line 12B daily, including students traveling to Ghent and elderly or less mobile individuals needing access to hospitals and shops.

The protesters have voiced their complaints to De Lijn and the Ghent city council but claim to have received only standard responses. They are calling for either the continued service of line 12B or the reintroduction of a previous bus route that passed through Holisbrug in Drongen. However, a recently installed speed bump on the bridge, intended to improve traffic safety, now prevents buses from crossing, presenting a significant obstacle to this proposed solution.

To highlight their grievances, the demonstrators plan to thank the bus drivers who are still operating on the affected routes, presenting them with gifts as a bittersweet acknowledgment of their service. The residents are urging De Lijn and the city to find a solution within the next two months, emphasizing the critical need for accessible public transportation in their community.