Search form

menu menu
  • Daily & Weekly newsletters
  • Buy & download The Bulletin
  • Comment on our articles

Next Brussels picnic protest on June 9

12:24 07/05/2013

The PicNic The Streets movement will hold a new protest against the mobility policy in Brussels. A year after launching its first giant ‘picnic protest’, the group has invited its supporters to do the same on Sunday, June 9, on the entire width of Boulevard Anspach between the Bourse and Place De Brouckère. The announcement of the mass sit-in came as the city’s authorities declared that the redevelopment of the Bourse area would begin in 2015. According to the organisers, nothing has changed since last year in terms of mobility in Brussels. “Just as we were announcing the beginning of a study for the redevelopment of the Place de la Bourse, PicNic The Streets plans to protest against the mobility policy,” said Perrine Marchal of the mayor’s office. “It makes no sense. Surely the organisers know that it takes time to implement a policy.” The HoReCa association is also disappointed by the decision. “It will be a bad day for the hospitality and catering industry in Brussels,” said its president, Yvan Roque. He believes traffic plays such an important role in the economy of the city centre that a ban on cars is impossible, though the association is not against reducing traffic in the capital, provided structural solutions are found. Since ‘picnic protests’ are classed as acts of civil disobedience, no authorisation has been sought for the June 9 event. The mayor’s office did not say what action it would take. In case of bad weather, the picnic will be postponed to the following Sunday, the organisers say.

Written by The Bulletin