Brussels ushers in a new era of sustainable transport
Visa

For a glimpse of the future of sustainable urban transport, visit Brussels.

The Belgian capital is almost two years into a decade-long transport plan aiming to underpin swathes of economic development and improve the living standards of its residents. The ‘Good Move’ plan seeks to cut traffic congestion dramatically while creating more room for pedestrians, cyclists and public transport. Roads are being redesigned to carve out “peaceful neighbourhoods, linked by intermodal structuring axes, and centred on efficient public transport and smoother traffic,” according to city authorities.

These are big changes for a city in which the average driver spends 195 hours a year stuck in traffic.

The plan will be underpinned by “integrated mobility solutions” offering choice to transit users. A single digital platform for all mobility services will enable travellers to transfer seamlessly between trains and buses, share bicycles or even charge e-scooters.

The success of Good Move will be watched closely by city leaders globally. At least 240 cities have set net-zero or carbon-neutral targets for 2050 or sooner, according to research led by Oxford University. Brussels’ plans to combine city planning with a digital strategy, seeking to remove friction from multi-modal journeys could boost the adoption of more sustainable methods of transport, and ultimately become the model that others follow.

“Sustainable mobility is an imperative for any urban centre seeking to reach its full potential,” says Glenn Maguire, Principal Asia Economist at Visa. “If cities are to be successful, transport models must be frictionless from a digital perspective. That includes utilising integrated payment methods that can act as the connective fascia between various forms of transit.”