The various modes of transport in Belgium's various regions are currently fragmented, but a multimodal app has now been launched which aims to tackle this.
In the Belgian capital, public transport operator STIB manages all of the trams and metros, and most of the region's buses (some are run by the Flemish De Lijn company and TEC from Wallonia).
In recent years, other modes of transport such as e-bicycles, e-scooters and shared cars have been introduced, but a connection between these different options for their users was lacking, making multimodality in the capital more complicated.
For example, a person who works ten minutes from a tram stop in Laeken may take a shared e-scooter from their office to the tram before taking public transport. Depending on where the person lives, they may have to take another e-scooter or hop onto a shared bicycle before getting home, requiring them to use at least two different apps or payment methods.
STIB and Brussels Mobility have now launched a new multimodal app named 'Floya' which brings together information on the entire mobility offer in Brussels on one platform, a first in the country.
Highlighting alternatives
On this MaaS (Mobility as a Service) system, locals and tourists alike can quickly view all possible travel options, both public and private, "for greater ease of use, efficiency and flexibility, anytime and anywhere," said STIB CEO Brieuc de Meeûs on Wednesday.
The app will include (real-time) information on travel on foot, by bicycle, e-scooter, bus, tram, metro, train, shared car and taxi. Users can look up the route according to preference, as well as pay for tickets or book shared e-scooters, bikes or cars.
The app is evolutionary, meaning new mobility services and functions will be added as they are welcomed to the capital. With this new system, STIB and Brussels Mobility want to persuade people to reduce the use of their private cars by making alternative options more accessible and visible.
Floya will be available in the app stores from Wednesday and will be presented to the general public during Mobility Week 2023, where multimodality will take centre stage. This year, the event will run from 16-22 September, with the highlight being Car-Free Sunday on 17 September. Here, the app can be discovered via the 'Mobility Hubs' and in the 'Mobility Village' on Car Free Sunday (17 September).
This article was originally published on 31 August and was updated on 6 September to include additional information about the app.
