Poppy removes shared cars from industrial and residential areas

Car-sharing company Poppy has adjusted the zones where its car-sharing vehicles are allowed to be parked, removing them from industrial and residential areas where it said there was little demand.

“We want to guarantee the proximity of our cars,” said Pierre de Schaetzen, Poppy's chief marketing officer.

“In industrial estates and villa districts, they often remain parked for days on end.”

Poppy users have received an email explaining the new restrictions of the service, Bruzz reports, with a map showing the "black zones" where cars can no longer be parked.

“A data analysis shows that in certain neighbourhoods, there is hardly any demand for shared cars,” de Schaetzen said.

“When a car is parked there, it often stays there for days, forcing Poppy to move it manually.”

Zones where parking is prohibited, such as parks and streets without official parking spaces, are also indicated on the map “so that users clearly know where they can and cannot leave their Poppy car”.

Although certain zones are excluded for parking, it remains possible to drive anywhere and even park for a short while in these areas. However, users will continue to pay for the rental of the car during that time.

“There should always be a parking space within a radius of 200 to 300 metres,” de Schaetzen said.

Competitor Miles announced earlier this month that it would be leaving Belgium entirely due to "persistent vandalism", especially in Brussels. Poppy denies that vandalism played a role in its recent choice of rezoning.

“There is little law enforcement in industrial areas, but strategic decisions are not made based on vandalism,” said de Schaetzen.

Poppy emphasised that the adjustments are not final: “If users feel that we have made a mistake and that certain neighbourhoods are crucial for the service, we will look into it and make adjustments if necessary.”

The change will not take effect until 7 April, in order for customers to provide feedback.