Scooter users to help map Brussels’ most dangerous intersections

Starting September, three dozen Lime scooter users will help identify the capital’s most dangerous traffic junctions while zooming through traffic.

The electric scooter-sharing scheme Lime and the Vias road safety institute have decided to equip 30 of the company’s scooters with a button that users will be invited to press whenever they come across dangerous intersections, inadequate cycling infrastructure or whenever they are involved in an accident.

Vias is hoping to build a better picture of the capital’s most dangerous junctions through the information submitted by users as well as a better understanding of the needs of the scooter users.

Karin Genoe, CEO of Vias, told VRT NWS that the road safety institute hopes to identify three types of “black spots”, or places with a high occurrence of road accidents. “A first type is infrastructure. Is there for instance a hole in the road?” she explained. “A second kind is a feeling of insecurity. Do they think that other road users are driving too fast?” The third type of black spot is the occurrence of an accident or near-accident, she added.

The findings from the trial project will be passed on to the Brussels-Capital Region. “They are often also the road authority that will be able to do something with this information,” Genoe explained.

The most active users of the electric scooter-sharing scheme will be invited by Lime to participate in the trial project.

Photo: Belga / Eric Lalmand

Written by Linda A. Thompson