Political Diary 2024-02-01

First of February. Time flies. Last night, we had our regular Volt team meeting in Leuven. The main topic was the upcoming event this Saturday. We will be present in a group of hopefully 10 persons to spread our thoughts and distribute flyers in the city centre of Leuven, collecting more signatures. Our Dutch colleagues are coming, too. Distributing flyers twice a week in Brussels, joining events every second evening, working on publicity and ads on the weekend – all that drains our (wo)men power.

Two of our leading ladies are giving a presentation tonight about women in politics. I am eager to join, but I received the invite only yesterday. Despite registering, there is no chance that I can make it. Joining an event in Brussels that lasts until 10 PM means that I will not be home before midnight. (I am too old to take our motorbike, and I am not even aware whether or not it would be allowed to enter Brussels.)

How nice would it be if public transport late in the evening did not stop at Leuven station? Improving mobility in Flanders and across all our borders is Volt's first political priority for Belgium. We want to connect our cities and the less populated areas of our country with sustainable and affordable means of public transport. Not because we cling to any green ideology, but because it will give us more freedom and choices. If it is working and safe to use, it will provide many of us with more time. - While working on this text, I need to change my train and just got an extra 15 minutes of transport time because I did not catch my connection. - When I talk about mobility, I start from the 'should be' status, not the real status quo. Volt's vision is inspired by Japan and Switzerland or, closer to home, the metro in Paris. Connecting people by thoroughly planned public transport AND communicating this plans in an understandable way will increase the acceptance of new ideas on mobility.

And yes, I hear my favourite troll nagging that I should explain to him the point why one of the former motorway lanes into Brussels is now reserved for bicycles and scares you to death when you realize this the first time driving in murky light conditions and a bicycle is heading towards you on what you knew nearly all your life as a motorway. Of course, I cannot justify this. Like him, I missed the debate and have no insight into Brussels mobility plans. Bram Vandeninden might have. He is our male lead candidate for the European elections and an expert in this matter.

Our point on mobility is that we work towards a reliable, frequent, and nationwide public transport. If this was already in place, it would allow me to join tonight's debate with no worries about navigating by car in Brussels, finding a parking slot, or panicking to miss any train connection on my way home and walking for 40 minutes in the middle of the night; non-stop thinking that I need to be up at 6 AM the next day.

Of course, extending public transport to 24/7 (yes, I know, there are economic obstacles, but let me dream) has to go along with an efficient security scheme. Honestly, we pick up our daughter in Brussels by car when she has to be there for an evening event. Some friends, Brussels folks with all their heart, avoid some tram lines whenever this is possible. Unnecessary to talk about strikes because De Lijn employees were verbally and physically attacked. These issues need to be openly discussed and tackled.

But wouldn't it be great if we could send our kids alone to their afternoon activities? Less worried because we would have safe bicycle lanes and reliable tram lines? If people from Bertem could join a concert in Antwerp without planning an overnight stay? Going for a trip to the Ardennes without a car? - I did it with my kids about 20 years ago. It was feasible but took 5 times more time than a trip by private transport.

Don't get me wrong, we do not abolish cars where they are needed. We know that personal mobility means freedom. We want to minimize private transport where we can offer attractive alternatives. Our starting points will be the cities where we have sufficient public transport. Using private transport in these areas should be charged higher than only the maintenance cost of the car infrastructure. Using your car outside of our urban areas, on the other hand, shouldn't cost extra. And due to the fact streets are on a long-term lesser used by cars, general costs for this part of our infrastructure might drop as well.

Low emission zones should be extended, BUT the administrative effort you face if you want to go by car from Bouillon to Brussels, Gent, and Antwerp has to be significantly simplified. Basically, Volt wants to extend your freedom of choice by improving fossil fuel-independent transport in Flanders, Belgium, and cross Europe. We might not yet be able to manage the change (yet), but we can trigger it. Do you like a change in Belgium politics? Help us to get the ball rolling.