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๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ช Belgium /Environment & Climate

Renewed Shared Bicycle Network Launched in Flemish Rand

From VRT NWS · () Dutch

Translated from Dutch, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • A renewed shared bicycle network, 'nextbike Vlaamse Rand 2.0,' has been launched in the Flemish Brabant region of Belgium.
  • The network now features 68 locations, offering an alternative to cars for commuting and errands.
  • The initiative aims to promote sustainable mobility by integrating shared bikes with public transport hubs.

The Flemish Brabant region surrounding Brussels now boasts an expanded and renewed shared bicycle network, 'nextbike Vlaamse Rand 2.0.' This initiative aims to provide residents with a sustainable alternative to private car usage, particularly for short trips and commutes.

Everywhere in the Flemish Rand you can find shared bikes, allowing you to leave your car behind.

โ€” nextbike BelgiumDescribing the accessibility and purpose of the renewed shared bicycle network.

With the addition of new locations in municipalities such as Grimbergen, Vilvoorde, Halle, and Zaventem, the network has grown significantly from its initial 30 stations to a total of 68. These shared bikes are strategically placed at 'Hoppinpunten,' key transit hubs where different modes of transportation, like trains and buses, converge.

Users can easily access the bikes through a mobile app, allowing them to travel from train or bus stations to their workplaces, run errands, or simply navigate the area. The system encourages users to return the bikes to designated stations at the end of their journey, ensuring availability and organization.

We want to offer sustainable mobility to everyone.

โ€” Joeri de VisserStating the core objective of the expanded shared bicycle network.

Joeri de Visser of nextbike Belgium highlighted the network's role in offering speed and flexibility, especially in areas around Brussels where public transport might not reach every destination directly. He emphasized that the shared bikes, combined with public transport, present a compelling alternative to driving, particularly given the current high fuel prices, making sustainable mobility more accessible and appealing to a wider audience.

This is the ideal alternative to the car. Especially in the region around Brussels where public transport doesn't always take you to the place you need to be. Then a bike in combination with public transport is a good thing. It gives you speed and flexibility. Especially now that fuel is so expensive, we think we can reach a lot of people with our shared bikes.

โ€” Joeri de VisserExplaining the benefits of the shared bike system as an alternative to cars, particularly in the context of rising fuel costs and transit limitations.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by VRT NWS in Dutch. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.