Wemmel (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Wemmel’s new mobility plan, starting May 16th, aims to reduce traffic in residential areas, improve bike paths, and ensure the market is accessible from all sides, with a 6-month trial for adjustments.
As VRT News reported, Wemmel, a town north of Brussels, has a new plan to make life better for people. This plan, which started in December 2022, aims to reduce traffic and make things safer. It focuses on making it easier to get to schools and care centres, adding more bike paths, and improving buses and trains.
Officials mentioned that the plan also wants to stop cars from driving through neighbourhoods. To do this, they put up concrete blocks to stop cars from using certain streets. But this has caused more cars to use other streets, like Schoolstraat. This has made some people living and working there worried because there is more traffic than they thought there would be.
“The safety and quality of life were compromised,”
Says Olivier.
“Moreover, the upcoming works on the Limburg Stirumlaan will cause even more temporary bottlenecks.”
Can Wemmel’s new traffic plan improve safety and reduce congestion?
Erwin Olivier, who works for the town, said they know about the extra traffic on streets like Schoolstraat. They are trying to find a solution that helps both businesses and people who live there. They will try out the changes, like the concrete blocks, for 6 more months to see if they work.
They might make a “living street” on Schoolstraat where cars go slowly to keep people safe. The town is also talking to nearby towns to make sure the changes help everyone. They want to make a plan that works for the community and helps the environment based on what people and businesses say.
Wemmel wants to create streets where cars go slower, making neighbourhoods safer and easier to get around. They will build special, safe paths for people walking and biking. Cars will still be allowed on all streets, but the main traffic will be directed to major roads.
The new traffic rules start on May 16th, 2025. After that, there will be a 6-month test to see how well they work. The town will watch closely to see if the changes make the neighbourhoods better.
They’ll talk to local businesses and people who live there to get their opinions. At the end of the test, they’ll decide if the rules should stay, change, or be updated based on what people thought. This way, the plan can change to fit what the community needs.
