More reports of cross-border behavior on De Lijn vehicles: “An evolution that causes concern” | Domestic

Despite numerous measures, ranging from awareness campaigns to emergency buttons and cameras on vehicles, the number of reports of inappropriate behavior on vehicles and at De Lijn stops peaked in 2022 to 135. Last year that figure fell again to 109, which approximately corresponded to the 107 notifications in 2020.

It is striking that the number of reports about inappropriate behavior at stops fell sharply and even halved from 44 in 2022 to 20 in 2023, but that the number of reports on vehicles has risen from 78 in 2022 to 85 in 2023, the highest figure in recent years. five years. “An evolution that really causes concern, because people must be able to feel safe on public transport,” says CD&V politician Schryvers.

It is important that work is done “on smooth ways to make reports and on raising awareness among bystanders,” says the politician. “This is the only way we can create safe environments in which everyone can take the bus or tram with peace of mind,” she explains.

Flemish Minister of Mobility Lydia Peeters (Open VLD) said last year that she wanted to ask De Lijn to carry out a test with an emergency button in the transport company’s app, but according to Schryvers, they are now looking into whether there are better ways to to make a report.

“Concerns that were made about a reporting button in the app are that a fully automated process is not desirable for reports of inappropriate behavior, because conversation and a human assessment of the situation, which is different every time, are required. In addition, reports must be able to be made at any time, even if there are disruptions to the app,” it said.

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