Less pollution, no major incidents: Car Free Sunday hailed a success

Car-Free Sunday took place in Brussels without incident this weekend, resulting in a significant drop in air pollution and increased use of the capital’s public transport system.

The whole of the Brussels region was closed between 9.30 and 19.00 to car traffic, though some drivers (for example, people with a disability or an urgent travel need) can apply for and are granted exceptions.

The occasion provides residents a chance to use the whole of any street for walking and cycling. King Philippe and his daughter Princess Eléonore also took part in the day, cycling a few kilometres in Mechelen - which was awarded the title of "Cycling City of Flanders" two years ago - and stopping off at the Grote Markt to chat with a few people.

A few drivers were flagged for attempting to evade the temporary car ban in the Montgomery police zone (Etterbeek, Woluwe-Saint-Pierre and Woluwe-Saint-Lambert), but a spokesperson for Brussels Mobility said that it had “received no reports of any incidents or serious accidents between cyclists, pedestrians or other vulnerable road users”.

Emergency services counted 206 minor interventions, of which 43 were on public roads due to a fall with a bicycle, scooter or other bicycle.

“Last year we had 238 medical interventions, of which 41 were due to a fall,” said Brussels fire brigade spokesman Walter Derieuw.

“It’s true that on a day like today, some sick or injured people who normally make their own way to the emergency room with their car also call on an ambulance to get to the hospital.”

Stib reported no incidents on its network, which was accessible free of charge throughout the day and reinforced with higher frequencies than on a normal Sunday.

The company also organised an open house at the site of the new Toots Thielemans metro station in the centre of Brussels, expecting around 3,000 visitors but ending up with 4,358.

Visitors could enter the new station to learn more about the project and the archaeological discoveries made on the site, which forms a key link of the future metro line 3.

“Overall, the Car-Free Sunday delivered an improvement in air quality, with a significant drop in the concentrations of several pollutants,” Brussels Environment said.

It noted that average pollutant concentrations fell in the parts of the city with a strong influence of road traffic. The decrease in various locations ranged from 42% to 100% nitrogen monoxide (NO), and 47% to 67% for nitrogen dioxide (NO2).

The decrease was even more striking at certain busy locations: “At the Arts-Loi monitoring station, NO and NO2 concentrations fell by 88% and 62% compared to an average Sunday. The decrease was even more marked compared to an average weekday.”

In addition to higher air quality on Sunday, less noise pollution was measured, in particular on the E40 near Woluwe-Saint-Lambert (which was between 17dB and 24dB quieter) and the E411 Auderghem.

“The decreases are very pronounced for the stations on Rue Guillaume Tell in Saint-Gilles, Chaussée de Wavre in Auderghem and Avenue Houba de Strooper in Laeken," said Brussels Environment. "This represents a 50% to 84% reduction in noise levels.”

Car-Free Sundays are just one initiative aimed at curbing the high levels of air pollution in Brussels, which regularly make the list of most polluted European capitals.

“According to the latest report (2023) by the European Environment Agency, air pollution causes almost 5,000 premature deaths a year in Belgium,” Brussels Environment said.

“The aim is therefore to reduce emissions of air pollutants, especially nitrogen dioxide produced by transport, among others.”

The car-free day costs about €800,000, according to last year's figures, with a portion of that due to free rides on the city’s public transport system. Belgian rail company SNCB also offered a "mobility ticket" for €8 return, valid on the entire rail network.

Similar initiatives also exist elsewhere in Belgium, with at least 52 towns and cities across the country taking part. A car-free day is organised in Antwerp, as well as in Ath, Spa and Comines-Warneton in Wallonia.

Photo: Nicolas Maeterlinck/Belga