PLAN IRIS 2

IRIS 2 is the new Regional Plan for Mobility



It is an strategic plan for mobility, it covers the period 2015-2020. Its objective is to make Brussels city more accessible, improving quality of life, reducing traffic jams (at least 20%) and reduce CO2 emissions. This is a very nice and idealistic approach.

They made a public survey to get feedback from people living in Brussels and its sorroundings. This is a very good thing.

I read some parts of the document, which can be downloaded from the website, and the plan is really something that results difficult to believe when I look at the streets of Brussels now, or whent I take the public transport.

To the people resposible of IRIS2, I wish you all the best and very good luck in your travel to Neverland.

MY PROFILE IN FACEBOOK

I Have created my profile in FACEBOOK.

I have also created the facebook group SERVICE IN BRUSSELS

TAXI IN BRUSSELS

Taking a taxi in Brussels can be an adventure sometimes.
I have to say firstly that most of the times I use taxis in Brussels I have had no problems, but I want tou provide some advice as well as some interesting information about taxis that you should be aware.

The first difference between taxis in brussels and anywhere else is that you normally have to take them in the TAXI STOPS around the city, or call them through a phone call so they go to pick you up.
In other words, it is very unlikely that a taxidriver will stop in front of you in the middle of the street if you need him. Sometimes I see people waiting for a taxi in the street for several minutes without success, and no taxis are passing though or all of them are already busy.

Having in mind the above specificity of taxis in Brussels, what you need to know is the following:

The rates applicable in the Brussels-Capital Region
! New tariffs on 10/03/2008 !

Pick-up charge: € 2,40

Rate I (within the 19 communes of the Brussels-Capital Region): € 1,35/km

Rate II (outside the 19 communes): € 2,70/km

Waiting fee : € 25,00 per hour (1)

Between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. customers are charged a flat rate supplement of € 2,00 (the taximeter is fitted with a clock-calendar that registers this flat-rate supplement automatically).

(1) Waiting time: the taximeter automatically switches to waiting time if the tax is driving at less than 20 km/h, for example in traffic jams, at red lights, etc.

(2) Rates above include VAT

These rates are normally visible inside the taxi, like the picture below:

More things to have in mind. In case of complaints, the Ministry has made available forms online that you can fill in. Of course, you should memorize some details about the taxi, i.e. LICENSE NUMBER, and driver name which should be always visible.

LINK FOR COMPLAINTS ABOUT TAXIS IN BRUSSELS
http://www.brusselstaxi.be/site/

I have taken the rule of taking note of this information after I seat in the taxi, because you never know if you will have the chance later. Complains can be about speed, driving style, extra tours, etc....What is actually important here is that the Ministry of Brussels has open an easy door for users to send complaints. Now the ball is on your side, and it depends on you to change things. If you have any trouble, you have to speak up and complain, otherwise things will keep the same.

SURVEY ON SATISFACTION STIB 2008

SURVEY ON SATISFACTION STIB 2008

Improving the quality of the service is one of STIB's top priorities. As a traveller, your opinion on different aspects of our service is of particular interest for us. Therefore, we would like to ask you to complete the questionnaire below. We thank you in advance for taking part in our poll.

Take this chance and be yourself!!!

http://surveys.globalepanel.com/wix/p254790923.aspx

Stationner à Schaerbeek - YOU ARE NOT WELCOME

I recently moved to Schaerbeek, a big neighbourhood in Brussels. This post is dedicated to this area of Brussels, but I am sure the concept can be extended to the whole city.

Parking in Brussels, as in any big city of Europe, is very complicated. But in Brussels this is even more complicated than anyone could imagine. And besides, every neighbourhood has its own special rules. In Schaerbeek, this is so difficult to understand that they have even created a dedicated website to explain the rules to people. Of course, this clever idea doesn't work while you are driving and you strive to park your car around, or when you arrive to the city for the first time.

I was so astonished when I understood the system (rules of the game) that I could not believe it. Basically, unless you have a resident card of Schaerbeek, and have paid your parking fees, you cannot park the car more than 2h on the street. It is technically against the law. Not only foreigners are not welcome, but also people from other parts of Brussels or Belgium. Yes there are some areas with machines like this one:

But these machines are very seldom available, and only in some streets, and special spots. You could find yourself that there are no machines around three or more blocks. Not to mention the price (15 € for half a day, and this is the maximum allowed!!! Insane!!!)

So what I did is to contact The Brussels-Europe Liaison Office, which try to help expats solve problems and I asked about this issue. First they told me they were surprised to hear I cannot park my car on the street. When I explained the rules of Schaerbeek, they told me they were going to verify this with the “Commune”. So they called the police of Schaerbeek and the “Commune”. Surprisingly, the person in this office realized that I was right and these rules make no sense at all. She even suggested to pay the fine or park the car in a supermarket parking as an option!!!!!. Yet I asked her, What if my car is towed by the police??? She also found out thet apparently this doesn’t happen very often, but…IT CAN HAPPEN!!!!. This person, even found out that members of the European Parliament who live there, and have cars with foreign plates parked on the street, have had their cars towed because of these stupid rules!!!!

Once again, Brussels is full of surprises and stupid rules, administration and regulations that anyone can logically understand.

Thanks to The Brussels-Europe Liaison Office, , for trying to help. I hope ....and that is my only one, that they pass the message to the responsible persons on the Commune. I have a dream....a more user-friendly rules for parking.

The lack of effective competition on Belgian Telecoms

I quote a press release from the Commission:

The EU Commission calls on Belgian telecoms regulator to impose more effective regulation on fixed telephone calls.

The lack of effective competition and high tariffs in the Belgian markets for fixed voice calls could result from an ineffective implementation of telecoms regulation. Measures taken by the Belgian telecoms regulator, the 'Institut Belge des services postaux et des télécommunications' (BIPT), have not yet led to competitive prices for fixed line calls. In a letter made public today, the European Commission invites BIPT to ensure that wholesale remedies are properly enforced and asks for a new market analysis to be carried out within one year. BIPT should also revise its price control obligation imposed on Belgacom, the telecoms incumbent, to allow Belgian customers to make cheaper calls as soon as possible.

Belgacom's market share on markets for national calls services


(2003 2004 2005 2006 2007)
Residential – in volume 89 % 76 % 67 % 69 % 65 %
Residential – in value 87 % 73 % 65 % 66 % 66 %
Business – in volume 73 % 68 % 71 % 74 % 75 %
Business – in value 70 % 71 % 75 % 78 % 80 %
Source: BIPT, October 2008

Isn't it almost a MONOPLY ? ? ? ?

More info HERE

QUEUES IN BRUSSELS

Queues in Brussels.

I am sure you have experienced them several times in Brussels.

Queues are normal, they happen everywhere. However Brussels has something about queues worth mentioning, and that is: People is used to it, and even worse, I think they like them.

I think that is one of the problem, people is used to it, and they do not complain, and that is why none does anything about it. What was first the chicken or the egg?

Well, believe it or not, I have never seen such a submissiveness for queues anywhere else in the world. There can be queues, but not always. When there are always queues in something, people must complain to the responsible people, otherwise none will move a finger.

Here there is a good example in Brussels: ATMs or Cash dispensers. Not to mention that most restaurants and shops do not accept credit cards, and also not to mention that most of the times these machines do not have more money.

Would you believe that in the whole MIDI train station there is only ONE ATM???

Look at it:




And would you believe in Zaventem international airport, until a few months ago, there were only TWO cash dispensers in the whole airport!!!!! (actually there was a third one in the inside post office, but you could barely see it). Fortunately DEXIA decided to put two or three more down there. But still, I think this is really crazy.

Anyway, until people don’t formally complain about this, it will always be like that.

Need some cash??

just wait...