EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - Shared taxis in Brussels encourage accessibility and mobility

Shared taxis in Brussels encourage accessibility and mobility

Introduction

Collecto is a collective taxi service which is available 7 days a week between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. throughout the Brussels-Capital Region. The service began with 80 points of departure in September 2008 and is extending to 200 points of departure by next autumn. Collecto is very flexible: you get in at a stop of your choice and are left at any address of your choice in the Brussels-Capital Region. The service is inexpensive: only € 5 per person for a journey of less than 3 km and € 8 for longer journeys. The collective taxis supplement the night bus network.

Description

In 2007, an international comparative study was conducted by the GfK Group into taxi users and their wishes in Amsterdam, Lisbon, London and Paris. The study aimed to identify the main obstacle to greater use of taxis in the mobility systems.

Two results stood out in the survey. First of all, many heavy car users (28%) as well as the die-hard 'public transport only' users (25%) have a rather 'sedentary' profile, displaying fairly limited and regular mobility habits, more public transport-oriented in city centres, more car-oriented in the suburbs. But 'nomadic' urbanites, claiming the freedom to move about wherever and whenever they like, already make up an impressive 47% of all users, 13% being 'car only' users. Secondly, about 23% of respondents call themselves regular taxi users, but strikingly also public transport users (with 11% also car users) and all are 'nomads'. The emerging 'urban nomad' seems to juggle a range of modes, in which public transport and taxi complement and reinforce each other. (Source: Urbanicity)

The nighttime taxi system in Brussels fit with the general conclusion of the GfK study that taxis have great potential in urban environments.

Target group

Residents & visitors of the Brussels-Capital Region

Financing

Collecto is an initiative by the Brussels-Capital Region in cooperation with STIB and Taxis Verts.

Contact info

Collecto
Brussels
Phone: +32-2 800 36 36
collecto@mbhg.irisnet.be

Project start date

/09/2008

Links

Visit the website of Collecto for more information

Download the international comparative study on the use of taxis (PDF, FR, 7.5 MB)

Document type

case

Themes

Urban Policy > Transport and infrastructure

Keywords

Public transport