Brussels experienced a tranquil day last Sunday, with private cars being temporarily prohibited from the city’s roads. A significantly diminished risk of colliding with a hasty driver meant that families could enjoy a bicycle ride in the middle of the street. Joggers seized the opportunity to replace the bumpy cobbled footpaths with the smooth asphalt roads. Some delighted in the unique experience of unhurriedly wandering about.
A group of three opted for a horse ride through the heart of Brussels rather than cycling, enjoying the horse’s slow cadence in the uncluttered city streets. An added bonus to the day was the provision of free public transportation across the city during the duration of the car-free day, an annual event in the capital of Belgium.
Meanwhile, the Chatelain district saw many streets turn into sizeable “brocante” or jumble sales. Many participants laid out stalls to vend an assortment of second-hand items, like clothes and records. On the other hand, a community meal was hosted by the local authority in a smaller square in the Ixelles community. The laid-back gathering had long benches filled with people engaging in lively conversations.
Nathalie Durant, an organizer of the event, explained that the aim is for people to reclaim their space in the city streets. The picnic, as per tradition, always aligns with the car-free day. A scene that particularly caught the eye was a child, gleefully riding his tiny blue scooter down the steep street with his mother as his cheerleader, encapsulating the spirit of the day.
Tom Moylan, the manager of Restless Brussels, an entity striving to engage Brussels’ international population in community affairs and political processes, states that car-free day has always been appreciated by locals. He notes that while citizens may not want to adopt this practice permanently, there is widespread agreement over its importance. The concept, he explains, permits individuals to envision a city where vehicles are given less priority. Being a father to a young child, Moylan’s primary concern revolves around securing roads. However, he explains that the conversation about reclaiming public spaces from vehicular traffic is extensive, touching upon issues such as community playgrounds, air quality, and noise pollution.
Moylan adds that Brussels has seen significant transformations, with some parts of the city centre turning pedestrian-friendly and an upgrade in bicycling facilities. However, debates pertaining to reducing traffic in city streets have grown more contentious. Certain immigrant communities were discontented with recent alterations, seeing it as a part of larger conflicts triggered by the upgrade of areas in the northern and western parts of Brussels. Moylan points out that the annoyance tied to these mobility alterations are linked to other factors, insisting these concerns warrant serious note.
Wiet Vandaele, the chair of the road safety advocacy group, Heroes for Zero, expressed delight in seeing children cycling on Sundays rather than remaining indoors glued to digital screens. However, he indicates apprehension over politicians attempting to exploit resistance to broad traffic changes for securing votes. Brussels, Vandaele points out, has a tradition of designing around cars, but there have been advances in recent times towards more inclusive transportation. He suggests that unless deaths of cyclists and scooter riders cease, they haven’t achieved their goals. He also observes that plans for “low traffic neighbourhoods” have faced local opposition, a situation worsened by politicians instigating further disputes.
The concept of a “car-free day”, as part of the European Mobility Week, took on a unique shape in Dublin over the past weekend. The local governance, the Dublin City Council, showed their commitment by shutting traffic on Custom House Quay from 11am to 4pm on Sunday. Moylan, a native Dubliner who has spent the previous decade living in Brussels, suggests there is no obstacle preventing the Irish metropolis from having one day a year without cars. He explains it’s simply a matter of determination.