Zemst (Brussels Morning Newspaper) -As fate would have it, the first meeting of a new alderman, Erik Moens, of the local party, Zemst, ended on a sour note when he realised that his cargo bike had been stolen.
The event happened only a few days after the procedural installation meeting of that city’s newly constituted municipal council. The Nihola tricycle costs about €4,300, and for Moens, it is not just any bicycle but an important tool because he suffers from balance problems; the tricycle gives him another means of transport apart from his car.
New alderman Erik Moens of Zemst could not have a great beginning to his term because his cargo bike, which is essential for his functioning, was stolen after the first council meeting. He was trying to solicit the help of the community to retrieve the whereabouts of the bike. The theft took place between 10:00 PM and 10:30 PM yesterday evening after the first meeting with the new board of aldermen was held. Moens testified that he stepped out of the house one day, only to discover that his bicycle had been stolen, but the snow still came up to the prongs of the tricycle he had been riding on before that. Moens tried several methods and indeed drove around the place where it was stolen but did not find the stolen bike. He has associated a motorbike with one of his basic needs, and their absence has made him feel so disappointed. In my case, this bike is very essential for mobility, and I can no longer do without it. I found that it had now been stolen rather unfortunate, as he said.
Moens is going to report the matter to the police and appeal to the public for support. He underlined the importance of his cargo bike and appealed to the residents of Zemst to look for it.
“I would also like to call on every individual in Zemst. If anyone gets to see my bike or hears anything with regard to the bike, please, he should inform me, please,”
He said, emphasising that it has an old election sticker with his photo on the bike.
The importance of mobility for Alderman Moens
The situation concerns not only the loss of Alderman Moens’ dear friend but also reveals an important problem of mobility-impaired people. First, Moens, a recently elected official, uses a cargo bike to show that easy access to transport within neighbourhoods is a must. His tricycle is not only an effective means of transportation, but it also gives hope to those who may have problems riding bicycles or driving cars.
Moens was robbed of his cargo bike, and that is why it is crucial to think about those who rely on the specific transport services. It also brings to the foreground factors that touch on security and neighbourhood preparedness against theft. This particular event that will be under investigation by local government authorities will open debate on changes that need to be made on security measures for any area where residents store their bicycles or other personal means of transport.
While Alderman Erik Moens’s first board meeting was intended to mark a new beginning in Zemst’s local governance, it has instead drawn attention to significant issues surrounding mobility and community support. While he is in this difficult position, the reaction from the people targeted can determine his success in getting his stolen cargo bike back even as they rebuild trust during a period of leadership transition in the community.
