Mechelen (Brussels Morning Newspaper): Starting January 6, De Lin will remove over 6,100 bus stops in Flanders, affecting service in many areas, including Mechelen-Noord.
TreinTramBus has raised concerns about changes starting January 6, when De Lijn will move bus lines to major roads. This is a problem for the Sprookjeswijk area in Mechelen-Noord, where many seniors live. They can currently catch the bus at Meerminnenstraat, but after the change, they’ll have to walk almost a kilometre to Liersesteenweg. Dirk Tuypens from the PVDA party is upset about this, saying that losing bus service in Sprookjeswijk and around Vribroekpark is a big issue for the community.
What will be the impact of cutting City Line 2 on Mechelen’s seniors?
City line 2 will be cut, leaving Kauwendaal and the Vrijbroekpark area without bus service. Tupens fears this will lead to seniors feeling isolated since the bus is often their only way to get to the city centre. He believes these changes are not really improvements but rather make it harder for older people to stay connected to their community.
The radical left is pushing for the Flemish government, De Lijn, and the city council to come up with a better transportation plan for the area. Tupens emphasises that many people living here aren’t interested in options like shared bikes or scooters, as they don’t feel these solutions fit their needs. He also points out a significant issue: residents in Kauwendaal and the Vrijbroekpark area don’t have access to the dial-a-bus service. It has been said that this lack of accessible transportation options makes it challenging for them to move around, highlighting the urgent need for a more effective public transport system that truly serves the community’s needs.
