Ghent (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – A bus driver’s attack on the Ghent–Blaarmeersen route sparked urgent talks between Ghent, unions, and De Lijn. Union representative Steven Steyaert seeks driver cabins, more inspectors, and ticket checks at Gent-Sint-Pieters.
As VRT News reported, a case of aggression on a bus travelling to the De Blaarmeersen recreation area in Ghent on Aug 12, 2025, has led to urgent discussions between city officials, transport unions and De Lijn. Shortly after the incident, the unions and the city of Ghent held initial talks to examine the situation and consider safety improvements.
Today, Aug 13, 2025, De Lijn will join the talks to decide which measures can be introduced without delay. The discussions will focus on a step-by-step safety plan that has been under review for some time, reflecting repeated concerns from drivers about exposure to aggressive behaviour.
What safety measures will protect the bus drivers in Ghent?
Union representative Steven Steyaert noted that several key safety measures have been proposed in the past but have yet to be implemented across the entire bus network. He mentioned that one request is to install secure cabins that fully separate drivers from passengers, as many vehicles still lack this barrier.
The unions also want more inspectors assigned to the Blaarmeersen route to keep order on board and act quickly when incidents occur. The outcome of today’s meeting is expected to establish a timeline for implementing these changes and to determine if temporary measures can be employed in the meantime until permanent protections are implemented.
Union representatives say more ticket inspections are needed at Gent-Sint-Pieters station. They point out that this is often where the issue begins. Some travellers board without a ticket and make the full journey to Blaarmeersen without paying. The union believes that checks carried out at the station could prevent fare dodging and reduce related incidents.
De Lijn has confirmed that they will join the talks on the matter. The driver who was attacked in the latest incident was working for a subcontractor. According to the union, subcontractors must be kept fully informed about any new security measures.
On August 12, 2025, a female bus driver in Ghent was attacked while driving to the Blaarmeersen recreation area. A group of young people spat at her and physically assaulted her. In recent years, unions have raised alarms about growing violence against public transport workers. Many of the incidents were linked to ticket disputes or, during the COVID-19 period, to passengers refusing to wear masks.
In 2022, a bus driver in Ghent was hit in the face after asking a traveller for a valid ticket. That same year, a driver in Antwerp was hurt while trying to remove an aggressive passenger. These incidents led to more police checks and ticket inspections for a short time.
