Residents of the Brussels commune of Schaerbeek protested on Tuesday for the second day running against the ‘Good Move’ circulation plan, just implemented in the Berenkuil neighbourhood.
Disgruntled residents staged a first action of civic disobedience on Monday, when Berenkuil became the third and last neighbourhood to be made car-free under the circulation plan.
Monday's protest was held in the evening in the Berenkuil neighbourhood, with dozens of residents gathering to speak out against the circulation plan. They made their opposition clear by daubing fixed road signs with paint and taking away detached road signs and throwing them together in a heap. The demonstration did not have police approval.
On Tuesday evening, residents and sympathisers gathered again at Stephenson Square, this time with the permission of the police. They were allowed to loosen the bollards blocking the square and each time one came loose, it was met with loud cheers. “Freedom,” the protesters shouted as some cars drove back into the cleared street.
After the first stop at Stephenson Square, the protesters moved on to Pavilion Square, where they climbed poles to pry traffic signs loose. Some of the demonstrators posed proudly with the signs.
The fire brigade had to put out a small fire and fireworks were set off here and there.
Chanting “Good Move, we don’t want that,” the crowd then marched to Schaerbeek town hall to put down the traffic signs and bollards they had collected.
A small delegation was received there at around 7.45 p.m. by the mayor and the College of Aldermen.
