Plans to transform Square de la Croix-Rouge in Ixelles into a car-free zone have been postponed indefinitely.
The plan had initially intended to divert commuting traffic out of the square (next to the Ixelles Ponds) using ANPR cameras. A trial period had been scheduled from 15 June but "the political climate is not favourable now," Ixelles Mobility Councillor Yves Rouyet (Ecolo) told Bruzz. The party hopes to implement the trial at a later date.
The municipality of Ixelles says it cannot enact the changes alone and will need support from the government, which is "in current affairs" following the elections – undertaking purely administrative activities until a government is formed.
"It is a complex project," said Rouyet. "We are working together with regional institutions; Safe.Brussels supplies and manages the cameras, and Finance & Invest Brussels is responsible for collecting the fines. But now that there is no longer a fully-fledged regional government, we are left without a partner."
'Discrimination of Brussels residents'
Aside from broader political machinations, the project has caused a stir locally. Mouvement Réformateur (MR) faction leader in Ixelles Gautier Calomne expressed satisfaction that the plan was postponed but noted that a further solution is needed. He also denounced the "discrimination of Brussels residents" as locals would be allowed to cut through the pond in a car while other residents would be banned from doing so.
A petition against the plan garnered 250 signatures from local residents. Calomne pointed both to this initiative and an awareness of the municipality's election results as reasons behind the postponement. "The majority feels which direction the voter is going. MR has won regionally and the diversion at Square de la Croix-Rouge has no support."
The Francophone liberals enjoyed enormous gains in the Brussels-Capital Region, securing 26% of seats in the Brussels Parliament. The party's stance on the divisive Good Move mobility plan curried favour among citizens who feel alienated by the plan's aim to remove cars from the city centre. MR party leader Georges-Louis Bouchez attacked the plan last week, expressing a desire to "bury" Good Move, which he says the Greens have used to "hold the city hostage".
In response, Brussels Mobility Minister Elke Van den Brandt (Groen) defended Good Move as an initiative which "offers alternatives, more public transportation, road safety, and air quality." She said that her party will not abandon the plan and appealed to potential coalition partners to engage in constructive conversation about such topics rather than "making big statements in the press".
