Brussels sees uptick in public transport use, decline in car ownership

If your morning commute has felt crowded lately, you might be onto something: More people are using public transport in the Brussels region, while less people own private cars, a new study Brussels Mobility found.  

Last year’s data shows that people in Brussels’ 19 municipalities used public transport as much as they use personal cars.

Journeys by buses, metros, and trams made up 27% of journeys in 2024 – up from 22% two years ago. Adding the 2% of journeys taken by train, trips using public transport amount to 29%. That’s the same percentage as journeys undertaken by personal cars, according to the study commissioned by Brussels Mobility who is responsible for sustainable mobility, transport, infrastructure, and planning.

“The share of public transport today is higher than before Covid. If we want to sustain this, we have to keep investing on metro, tram, and bus in Brussels,” said Brieuc de Meeûs, CEO of Brussels transport operator STIB-MIVB. The company operates 53 bus lines, 18 tram lines and 4 metro lines.

A Brussels resident undertakes 2.7 journeys a day on average – amounting to a whopping 3.1 million journeys per day. A majority (86%) of journeys are made within the Brussels region, according to the study.

Residents walk nearly a third of their journeys (31%) – which makes walking their favourite mode of transport – and use a bike for 9% of their journeys.   

Car ownership is on the decline, too. In 2024, 44% of residents owned at least one car, while the number stood at 47% in 2022.

5,914 people have been surveyed between November 2023 and November 2024.

(vib)