Whether it be by the number of trips or by distance traveled, the most frequently used means of transport in Belgium remains the personal car, according to an extensive survey conducted in 2017 among 10,632 people by FPS Mobility and Transport and the Vias Institute.
Concerning the number of trips, the car alone accounts for 61%, against 14% for walking, 12% for cycling, and 11% for public transport (trains, metro, tram or bus).
However, compared with previous 2001 and 2012 surveys, this represents a decrease. For in 2012, 65% of trips were made by car. This reduction benefits the bicycle, which in 2017 represented 12% of trips, against 8% in 2012, and public transport (9% in 2012 to 11% in 2017). Walking, however, is less common (14% in 2017, against 16% in 2012).
Significant behavioral differences are observed among the three regions. In Brussels, the car is used by a minority (46%), while public transport and walking are each selected for 24% of trips. In Flanders, the bicycle is outstanding, when compared to other regions (18% against 4% in Brussels, and 2% in Wallonia). It is in Wallonia that the car is the most used (73% of trips).
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