Brussels introduces special drop-off zones for scooters and electric bikes

Brussels Mobility plans to make ‘drop-off’ zones for scooters and electric bikes near the capital’s railway stations and other busy transport hubs over the coming months.

The Brussels-Capital Region’s transport service aims to encourage users of this ‘free-floating’ mode of transport to park their two-wheelers correctly.

With some 4,500 ‘micro-mobility’ vehicles in the city, Etterbeek station will be the first to benefit from these clearly marked parking areas. Twenty more are planned around 11 mobility hubs in the next few weeks.

The majority will be placed near Brussels’ seven railway stations: Central, South/Midi, North, West, Schuman, Luxembourg and Etterbeek. The other five are designated for busy transport junctions: Delta, Simonis and Place Stephanie.

More will follow depending on the success of the scheme and demand from users, said Brussels Mobility.

The new initiative follows the organisation’s decision to designate zones (shopping streets, parks and historical sites such as the Grand’Place) where it is forbidden to park scooters. Belgian’s national railway company  SNCB also noted that many people leave their scooters near stations in a way that causes access problems, especially for the visually impaired.

Welcoming the scheme, Ixelles mayor Christos Doulkeridis (Ecolo) said it was essential that the development and growth of these new methods of getting around did not obstruct other users of public spaces, particularly the least mobile.

The zones are intended not only as parking spots but also for people wanting to continue their journey after leaving the train, bus, tram or tube.

Brussels mobility minister Elke Van den Brandt said, “Micro-mobility meets the specific need of the ‘last kilometre’ very well, that’s the quick and easy link between home or work and a bigger mobility option like the metro, tram or train.”

Photo: The new parking zones (c) Brussels Mobility