1. Mobility in Hasselt

2. Content of this presentation Introduction of Hasselt Free Public Transport How it started Results Remarks and challenges A common strategy?

3. Hasselt Flemish part of Belgium Capital of Limburg ± 74.500 inhabitants 102,24 km² Mayor Hilde Claes Deputy mayor Rob Beenders

4. Shopping & fashion Free public transport Genever Pukkelpop …  Capital of good taste Hasselt – Known for:

5. Hasselt - Infrastructure Highways E313 & E314 Albertcanal Crossing of railroads Outer Ring Road (R71) Green Boulevard (R70)

6. Hasselt - Infrastructure 1990: –Need for a third ringroad !? –Better solution: Smart mobility (walkability, biking, public transport) => Green Boulevard

7. Hasselt – Green boulevard Ancient city wall 19th –Boulevard 60’s –2 ring structure Adaptation 1997 –Green Boulevard

10. Public transport Free since July 1997 New network 3 main transit stations Accessible for the disabled

11. Free Public Transport

12. YearUsers / yearTimes more 1996350.000 19971.498.0884,28 more 20003.178.5489,08 more 20054.257.40812,16 more 20084.516.61112,90 more 20124.398.15812,56 more Popularity: – 16% switched from car to bus – 12% from bike to bus – 9% pedestrian to bususer Social factor – meeting place – elderly people – “our bus” – speakable HospitalMarket Users before26,25%33,90% Users after73,75%66,10%

14. Free Public Transport Costs: –1-2% of the city budget –75% regional government –25% Hasselt (= ticket price) Year€% of total cost (=ticket price) 1997274.37911% 2000782.84923% 20061.026.955± 25% 2012± 1.750.000± 25%

15. Walkability Car free pedestrian zone –Step by step –Alley network –Parkingpolicy –Deliverie stores –…

16. Deliveries possible Deliveries between 6 & 11h and 17.30 & 20h 5 delivery loops 53 drop off spots Citydepot

17. Future Lightrail Spartacus plan –De Lijn & NMBS –Reorganize bus network –Lightrail: 3 routes Hasselt-Maastricht ( –3 stops in Hasselt –Overpelt & Maasmechelen ±200 million €

19. Challenges High use of private motorised transport –Car possession (91,1%) –2,8 transfers/day (31,6 km) Improve the use of public transport Cost/Benefit

20. Partners? Best practices: –change behavior –raising awareness –uniform statistics Next practices: –New methods public transport

21. Invitation Idea lanched by Aubagne and Etoile: group cities focusing on Free Public Transport Use existing experiences, skills and networks Example: Eurotowns (ass. Polis): Brain storm on new ways of public and smart transport and methods to stimulate the use of public and or smart transport systems (Kortrijk: 22 and 23 january), followed by a meeting in Manresa (18 & 19 march)

22. Mobility in Hasselt