Mobility
Brussels, high-speed capital
Nothing could be easier than getting to Brussels! From Paris, London, Cologne or Amsterdam, the green city is within reach by rail in less than two hours.
The train
Brussels is the heart of a high-speed rail hub: Thalys, Eurostar, ICE trains, running straight to city centres, without taking the long way round, without wasting time. Fast, dependable, incomparably comfortable with modern technology (Internet access), the train is definitely the best way to travel in Europe.
In addition, it is becoming 'sustainable':
• German railways, Deutsche Bahn (DB) are the most proactive among railway companies: following the initiative by the representation of Wallonia-Brussels Tourism in Germany, they selected Brussels, which has three DB train services per day (Frankfurt - Brussels-Midi), as a destination for which organizers of conferences, seminars and events may apply for an 'event' fare: fixed price return ticket, 1st class, valid from any station on the German DB network.
• At Thalys, Thalys Connect is a platform to facilitate the movement of passengers before and after their Thalys journey (from door to door). It offers facilities such as:
¨ a carpooling platform;
¨ a partnership with Europcar, for the rental of vehicles emitting less than 120 grams of CO2 per km.
• Eurostar 'Green Travel' Programme
¨ to enable passengers to reduce their CO2 emissions on their connecting journeys (connections from cities in the UK to Brussels listed on the site);
¨ to enable passengers to reduce their CO2 emissions on their connecting journeys (connections from cities in the UK to Brussels listed on the site);
¨ use of biodegradable or fully recyclable materials for 90% of disposable items used on board;
¨ recycling of used uniforms.
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Conscious of their responsibilities in the area of sustainable development, numerous airlines aim to be the benchmark for the airline industry.
The plane
Under the 'b.green' banner, Brussels Airlines is looking for ways to reduce its environmental footprint and encourage its employees, customers and suppliers to do the same.
Under the 'b.green' banner, Brussels Airlines is looking for ways to reduce its environmental footprint and encourage its employees, customers and suppliers to do the same.
The Brussels Airport Express train runs four times an hour to and from Brussels Nord, Brussels Central and Brussels Midi stations.
Discover the city the gentle way
On arrival at Brussels Midi station, public transportation (metro, tram and bus) takes over to transport you anywhere in Brussels. The main stations are equipped with additional mobility systems: Villo rental bike docking stations, Cambio car sharing and bicycle parking. En route for intermodal travel!
On public transport
On the trains of SNCB Belgian National Railways that connect the most remote localities in record time and the vehicles of Brussels public transport operator STIB (Metro, tram, bus) which link all parts of Brussels' 19 local authority areas, getting around the city is a breeze. To guarantee a stay without traffic jams and without hassle finding a parking space.
www.sncb.be
www.sncb.be
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Cycling
The cycle routes have improved continuously and allow you to move around safely. In addition, the city now has 180 Villo bicycle sharing docking stations, which is one station every 450 metres on average, and 4 'points vélo' (bike points) located near the main stations of Brussels (Brussels Central, Brussels Midi, Brussels Nord and Brussels-Luxembourg), managed by the social enterprise CyCLO.
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A cycle map of the Brussels Region, containing a wealth of information for cycle trips in the region, is also available from La Maison des Cyclistes, the GRACQ, the European Union Cyclists' Group (EUCG) and the bike points.
A guided tour by bike, with a Pro Velo specialist
To discover the cultural heritage of Brussels, the bike tours arranged by the association Pro Velo are ideal. There is an extensive choice of theme tours, there are dozens about lifestyle, heritage, green open spaces, history, neighbourhoods...
cactus & co
In small groups and in a quiet atmosphere, unusual cycle trips to discover Brussels in a different way...
A Segway trip
The Segwaytour is the perfect way to surprise your colleagues with a tour that is both cultural and unusual. The tour goes through the discovery of the finest examples of Brussels' architectural heritage, its most amazing yet little-known nooks and crannies, all by Segway. The Segway is an electric platform with two wheels that enables you to travel around the city in a fun, green ... and non-tiring way, even when going uphill! Fifteen minutes, supervised by instructors, will suffice to familiarise yourself with the Segway. The "Brussels Segwaytour" takes about one and a half hours and goes through 17 unmissable historic sites and buildings in the capital.
Walking
Distances are short in Brussels and public policy is aimed at constantly improving convenience for walkers: repair of sidewalks, improved lighting; creation of pedestrian routes linking together various areas of interest, new 30 km/h speed limit zones and pedestrian areas.
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Bruxelles Mobilité publishes a 'walking times map' called 'TAP TAP'. The journey time between the main landmarks in Brussels (town halls, architectural features and cultural heritage, recreation and sports centres, shopping centres, etc.) is shown, based on a walking speed of 4.5 km/h. The Region produced this map to encourage walking as an alternative to traffic congestion in the city and as a means of healthy and sustainable transport. You can get it on request from the freephone number 0800 94 001.
Jogging
Sightjogging
Visit Brussels while you are doing your jogging: one way of exploring the city, proposed by the association Brussels Sightjogging.
Car sharing
All municipalities in Brussels now have several Cambio stations. This scheme was established in Brussels in 2004, and allows you to rent a car occasionally at a very attractive price. The Cambio stations have already enabled 3600 private cars to be replaced between 2004 and 2010. Taxistop also offers carpooling for commuting between home and school.
Electric cars from Zen Car can be rented for an hour or more with a membership card. The charging stations will be freely available to all electric vehicle users wishing to recharge their batteries, via an ID card system.
The Collecto taxi sharing scheme at night is available at 200 starting points at STIB public transport stops. Available every night between 23.00 and 06.00, it allows several travellers to make a journey at modest cost.
