Overijse (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Overijse will stop its municipal bus service for primary schools in September 2025, citing low usage and €200,000 annual costs. Alderman Filip Boon (DynamiekVoorOverijse) says schools will receive funding to hire private bus companies instead.
For many years, primary schools in Overijse used municipal buses to take students to swimming lessons, the library, and the cultural centre. Officials mentioned that this made it easy for children to participate in these activities. The municipal government will stop this service in September 2025.
They reviewed the transport system and found that the buses were not used very often. This was even though the municipality spent a lot of money on the buses. Alderman for Mobility Filip Boon said the municipality spends about 200,000 euros per year on the service. With low usage, the cost was too high.
How will Overijse schools handle transportation without municipal buses?
According to the municipality, the buses are also very old. Several of them need to be replaced. This would cost a lot of money. The municipality wants to use its money wisely. Because of the high cost and low usage, the local government decided to stop the bus service. They mentioned that primary schools in Overijse will need to find other ways to get their students to swimming lessons, the library, and cultural outings.
Officials mentioned that schools and families will need to find alternative transportation solutions. However, the municipality believes that the long-term benefits of reallocating these funds outweigh the short-term inconveniences. They hope that by investing in other priorities, they can create a more sustainable and equitable future for the entire community.
Alderman for Mobility Filip Boon (DynamiekVoorOverijse) says,
“The balance between the use of the buses and the costs for the municipality is currently out of balance.”
The local government still wants schools to have transportation when they need it. They will now give money to schools for each student when they use a private bus company. Schools still take their students to swimming lessons, the library, and cultural outings. The municipality is not providing the buses anymore, but they are still helping schools pay for them.
“That is why they receive a contribution per pupil if they use buses from private companies. So it is not about dismantling the system, only now it is no longer done via the municipality, but via a private operator, with municipal subsidies.”
Alderman for Mobility Filip Boon says.
