63% of Belgians Shun Public Transport, Minister Responds

A major new study has revealed that nearly two-thirds of Belgians never or almost never use public transport, prompting Walloon Mobility Minister François Desquesnes to pledge a pragmatic response focused on tailored solutions rather than blanket service expansion. The findings, published on 19 May 2026 by Greenpeace, paint a stark picture of transport poverty in one of Europe’s wealthiest nations.

The Scale of the Problem

The study, titled “Access Denied: Transport Poverty in Europe” and conducted by the German research institute Oeko-Institut, found that 63% of Belgians use public transport less than once per month, while only 13% rely on it daily. Belgium ranks among the worst-performing European countries across multiple indicators, and does not place among the top performers on any of the 11 metrics analyzed.

According to RTBF, which hosted a debate on the findings, Belgium has the second-highest proportion of people in Europe citing “travel time too long” as the reason for avoiding public transport — 8%, compared to the EU average of 3.5%. Only Slovenia fares worse.

The situation is particularly acute outside major cities. In small municipalities and rural areas, Belgium records the worst results in Europe: 10.6% of residents in medium-sized communes cite excessive travel time, versus a 3.5% EU average, while rural areas register 8.7% against a 2.8% European benchmark.

Safety and Accessibility Concerns

Beyond travel times, the study highlights that 4.6% of Belgians avoid public transport due to physical access difficulties or safety concerns, above the EU average of 3.4%. Belgium also scores above the European average on the share of commuters with journeys exceeding one hour.

There is one bright spot: Belgium performs 50% better than the EU average on the indicator measuring the financial burden of transport on the poorest households. However, as L’Avenir reported, this single positive metric does little to offset the otherwise troubling findings.

A European Crisis

The report covers multiple European countries and reveals a systemic problem: in roughly 90% of nations, more than half the population does not use public transport regularly. Up to 56% of Europeans report feeling “cut off” from transit because it is simply unavailable in their area. As Greenpeace International reported, this lack of alternatives forces up to 19% of the population to own a vehicle, compounding household expenses and carbon emissions.

Herwig Schuster, transport campaigner for Greenpeace Central and Eastern Europe, described the situation as “a systemic failure.” He said: “Transport is not a luxury, it is a fundamental bridge to a dignified life.”

The Minister’s Response

Walloon Mobility Minister François Desquesnes (Les Engagés) has pushed back against calls for blanket service increases, instead advocating for targeted, fiscally responsible solutions. Speaking on RTBF’s “Le Monde en Direct” program, Desquesnes defended the Walloon government’s revised public service contract with LETEC, the regional transport operator.

“Wallonia invests €850 million per year in LETEC. We will invest an additional €45 million to develop on-demand transport lines,” Desquesnes said, as reported by RTBF. The revised contract, approved on 21 April 2026, includes a minimum service obligation of 100.35 million km per year, a gradual rollout of electric on-demand vehicles, improved intermodality with rail, and a target coverage rate of 14% of operating costs by 2030.

Desquesnes emphasized pragmatism: “We cannot run buses 24 hours a day on all roads in Wallonia, that would be absolutely unaffordable. If the bus doesn’t have an average of 10 people in it, it’s a budgetary, economic, and environmental heresy.”

Supply vs. Demand

The debate exposed a fundamental tension between Greenpeace and the minister. Nadia Cornejo, spokesperson for Greenpeace Belgium, argued that better supply creates demand, pointing to Brussels, where cycling infrastructure investments led to an explosion in bike usage. She called for more affordable tickets and expanded hours to encourage public transport use for leisure as well as commuting.

Desquesnes countered that despite rising fuel prices — driven by the ongoing Middle East conflict — people have not switched to buses, suggesting that cost is not the primary barrier. “It’s about accessibility and quality of service,” he said. “That’s where we need to work.”

Broader Implications

The findings come at a time of heightened urgency around mobility in Belgium. Urban sprawl, a deeply entrenched company car culture with favorable tax treatment, and a fragmented three-region transport system all contribute to the country’s poor performance. The study’s release also coincides with record fuel prices, adding economic pressure to the environmental imperative of reducing car dependency.

As Belgium grapples with these challenges, the question remains whether the LETEC contract revisions — focused on fiscal sustainability and targeted improvements — will be sufficient to meaningfully increase public transport usage, particularly in the rural and suburban areas where the need is greatest.

What’s Next

Minister Desquesnes has signaled that the government will continue to pursue a pragmatic, multi-modal approach — combining improved public transport with carpooling initiatives and alternatives to company cars. Greenpeace, meanwhile, is calling for a Europe-wide push for “climate tickets” and “social tickets” to make public transport affordable and accessible for all.

With Belgium ranking among the worst in Europe for transport accessibility, the pressure is on for concrete results — not just promises.