Plan to replace Villo stalled because of lack of Brussels government

The contract between bicycle-share company Villo and the Brussels region expires next year, but the procedure to find a successor cannot be launched as a result of the lack of a new Brussels government.

Brussels’ mobility committee decided to replace Villo due to its underperformance, Bruzz reports.

According to the mobility committee, the service is used far too little, the bicycles are too cumbersome and managing them is extremely expensive for the region.

A study last year showed that Villo costs the government €1,000 to €4,000 per bike annually, depending on included infrastructure. The business model behind the collaboration with the French advertising company that operates it, JCDecaux, has been questioned for years.

“My personal preference is for a new bicycle service within Stib – that’s why a sentence about it has been included in the management contract,” said outgoing mobility minister Elke Van den Brandt (Groen).

“After all, that’s our public transport operator. Adding the bicycle to the bus, tram and metro offer seems like a good idea to me, with or without a price supplement. But the outgoing government has ruled that this is a decision for the new government.”

Stib may only set up such a new service – which requires a public tender – if the new Brussels government agrees, given the budgetary consequences of such an additional service. The MR party has already stated a preference for a new private sector partner.

A thorough study in April 2024 was intended to facilitate a smooth transition in 2026, but Van den Brandt said that the regional authorities did not expect the formation of the next Brussels government to drag on for as long as it has.

“I don't deny that it will be almost impossible to come up with a mature project by the time the current contract expires,” she said.

“There will be a time gap, given that we’ve lost a year. We will have to see how we are going to manage that.”

In the meantime, other bike share companies continue to operate in the capital and Voi is now returning with a fleet of 2,500 electric bikes.

The Swedish mobility company had to withdraw its shared scooters from Brussels at the end of last year after it lost its licence, but is already back with 500 bicycles that can be rented for €0.15 per minute.

Like shared scooters and mopeds, they are available in designated drop-off zones throughout the city.

Voi has remained active in Antwerp, as well as in many other places, operating more than 110,000 vehicles in more than 100 cities and municipalities in 12 countries.