Bruges ( Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Bruges is considering changes to its shuttle bus service due to concerns about space and costs (€900,000 annually). Mayor Dirk De Fauw is exploring options like tourist fares or De Lin taking over to improve the system for locals.
Every year, over 200,000 people use the free bus service in Bruges. Half of the passengers are tourists, while the other half are residents. While the service is beneficial, authorities are concerned about the limited capacity of the buses. They mentioned that the buses are small and electric. When tourists bring large bags, it can be hard for local people to find room.
According to Mayor Dirk De Fauw, some residents feel frustrated because they often cannot get on the bus. The free service costs the city €900,000 each year, which has led to discussions about how to improve it for locals.
“They are also small, electric buses. When tourists get on from the station with their luggage, they take up quite a bit of space.”
Mayor Dirk De fauw (CD&V).
Will Bruges charge tourists for shuttle bus service?
According to authorities, to solve these issues, the city has taken steps to reduce how many tourists use the bus. They removed the “free” signs, hoping fewer tourists would ride. They mentioned that this change did not work, and many tourists still used the buses. The city is considering collecting fares for rides.
Officials stated that the purpose is not to make money but to encourage tourists to adopt other modes of transportation. They want to retain the bus service for locals who need it. By adding a fee, city leaders hope to improve the bus system and encourage tourists to walk or cycle instead.
According to officials, tourists in the city have different ways to get around. They can take regular De Lijn buses, which cost money, or taxis, which are faster but usually more expensive. They mentioned that if these options do not work for them, they can use a special shuttle bus.
This shuttle bus is not free, so passengers need to pay a fare to ride. It also helps those who want another way to reach important places in the city. The shuttle bus makes it easier for tourists to explore and enjoy their visit.
According to officials, the city is considering changes to the shuttle bus service, but no changes will happen soon. They need to talk to De Lijn, the local public transport company. De Lijn used to be the only company that could run paid bus services.
They mentioned that new rules allow cities to create their transport services if they reach an agreement with De Lijn. Since there is no agreement yet, the city must negotiate with De Lijn before making any decisions about the shuttle bus service.
“Either De Lin takes over the entire shuttle service. Or we arrive at a system where only tourists have to pay something. But we still have to see how we would approach that in concrete terms.”
Mayor Dirk De fauw (CD&V) says.
Officials mentioned that there are 2 possible futures for the shuttle bus service. One option is for De Lijn to take over the whole service and add it to their network. The other option is for the city and De Lijn to agree that only tourists will pay, while locals can ride for free. The city has not decided how this would work yet. Because of this, it is unclear how much tourists will pay for a ride in the future or if changes will make it easier or cheaper for them to use the service.
