2024-01-06 13:47:00
De Lijn launched the second and most important stage of the rollout of its basic accessibility plan on Saturday, concentrating buses on the most popular routes, between residential areas and other key areas. This new organization means that 3,200 bus stops will disappear, mainly in rural areas. This represents a total of 17% fewer stops than before the launch of the basic accessibility plan. Where there are few or no bus passages, users will be able to order – via the Hoppin app, the website or by telephone – flexible transport. This can be reserved 30 days to 30 minutes in advance. The budget allocated to “Flexbus” is twice as high (60 million euros) as that previously reserved for buses to order (30 million euros).
“A shame”: new controversy at De Lijn, the company orders… Chinese buses and raises eyebrows in Flanders
The new plan has been the subject of strong criticism from public transport user organizations and mobility experts. “This plan does not only come from De Lijn. It was discussed and approved with the cities and municipalities,” said Ann Schoubs during the presentation of the new offer on Saturday in Louvain. The company assures that it will now “monitor the situation” and that it will make “the necessary adjustments”.
Actions were taken on Saturday against De Lijn’s new transport plan in the capitals of the five Flemish provinces. In Leuven, around fifty people, including Groen co-president Nadia Naji and Vooruit MP Bruno Tobback, protested. Signs read: “There will be no Epiphany gifts this year because the three wise men are in the transport desert”.
”People whose usual stop is canceled and who have no alternative pay the costs. We do not understand why the cities and municipalities have approved this plan,” criticized Michel Van Oosterwyck, union secretary at ACV-CSC Transcom.
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