Belgium

Different transportation choices in Flemish and Walloon regions in Belgium

By zerrinhosgor - 9/25/2009 10:03:00 AM

I was in Belgium to make a research about historical cities and sustainable transportation in them two weeks ago. I had a chance to stay both in Flemish and Wallon regions of the country. There was a big difference between these two regions in terms of life styles and city characters. I would like to make a contribution to these differences according to their transportation choices.

Brugge
Brugge
In Flemish cities (Ghent, Brugge, Antwerp, etc), people mostly prefer to use sustainable transportation modes such as bicycles, public transport and walking and transport infrastructures support sustainable transportation modes, by creating bicycle routes and parks, etc..
Mons
Mons
But in most of the Walloon cities (Mons, Charleroi, Tournai, etc.) people use cars for their daily transports and you can't see any bicycle routes, streetscape and supporting infrastructure for pedestrians.

These different transportation preferences create different life styles and city structures. People are more healthy and active in Flemish region and Flemish cities are really very compact, animated and mostly crowded cities. These cities also supports sustainable transportation modes to protect their historical and cultural characters.

Brugge
Brugge
Brugge
Brugge
Brugge
Especially in Brugge, narrow streets providing walking and cycling and pavements supporting these transportation modes are remarkable points in the city. In addition to non-motorized transportation modes, city offers good public transportation opportunities for people. In Ghent, there is a same approach and city supports car-free events and develops good transportation policies. These Flemish cities are in some initiatives to support sustainable transportation for their future plans .

Brugge
Brugge

Mons
Mons
On the other hand, Walloon cities are mostly car dependant cities. Most of people use cars for their short and long distance travels. And city centers are full of car parkings. Although some of them (such as Mons) have lots of historical and cultural heritage, people can not feel this character of the city.They use bicycles for only their leisure activities not for their daily transports. For this reason, you can not see people in the streets so much. They come to the city centers by their car and make shopping or eating or whatever they need for their daily life and spend less time with other people.
Mons
Mons
Mons
Mons

You really feel the differences between in these two region of the country in this context. Flemish region are more alive than the Walloon region and it was a good chance to compare those cities from that point.

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