An analysis of posts on X (formerly Twitter) suggests that Brussels residents' feelings about the implementation of the controversial Good Move transport plan are less negative than initially anticipated.
The Good Move plan, endorsed by the Brussels government in 2020, has been a topic of heated debate for years. The transport plan has sparked many protests from drivers, due to its aim of reducing car dominance in Brussels.
Researchers Floriano and Sara Tori from VUB's Data Analytics Lab wanted to ascertain whether Brussels residents expressing opinions on social media were as negative about the mobility plans as suggested.
The analysts examined 2,000 tweets between 2019 and 2022 to better understand sentiment towards changes in the city's mobility policy. They believe traditional media may have exaggerated the extent of protests, while sentiments on X presented a more balanced view.
"This confirms yet again that alongside polarisation, there is also support for measures to make the city more liveable," Brussels' Mobility Minister Elke Van den Brandt (Groen) stated.
Young girl holds a sign saying 'Good Move killed me' during the protest on Sunday. Credit: Belga / Hatim Kaghat
Upon the introduction of Zone 30 and additional cycle lanes, there was vocal opposition on several fronts.
However, after some time, people began to appreciate the improvements and do not wish to revert to the previous road layout. This is also the case for the pedestrian zone, which is now a point of pride for Brussels.
Despite these findings, the VUB study results are not necessarily representative of the whole Brussels population.
