Brussels public transport company STIB is going to tackle the misuse of the emergency button at its metro gates. By just pressing the button once, all gates open automatically, allowing people to get in without paying.
By pressing the emergency button, the gates go into 'alarm mode' and all open at the same time for several minutes. At metro stations throughout the Brussels-Capital Region, people use the trick to get on or off the metro without a ticket. Bruzz is reporting that STIB now is taking action to put a stop to this phenomenon.
"Now, we are building in an extra barrier to combat fare dodgers," STIB spokesperson, An Van hamme, told The Brussels Times. "But we cannot remove those emergency buttons, because they are obviously needed for people's safety, so everyone can get out should something happen in the station."
The solution STIB is working on now should be ready to implement by the end of the year and will immediately establish an audiovisual connection (through camera and microphone) with dispatching when that button is pressed.
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"The people at dispatching can then quickly assess the situation and see whether or not it concerns someone who wants to get in without paying or someone who really does need help," she said, explaining that the gates will only open after the employee's approval.
"But security is paramount, so if – for whatever reason – there is no response from dispatch within 20 seconds after the button is pushed, the gates will still open automatically," Van hamme added.
Earlier this year, some of these emergency buttons – those on the outside of the gates – were already removed. Currently, there are only emergency buttons for people who are already inside – between the gates and the metro.
