Executive summary
One of the key aims of Good Move, the regional mobility plan for the Brussels Region is to facilitate modal shift to sustainable modes including public transport. While infrastructure and service improvements and pricing are key to achieve this goal, the direct engagement of people and new ways of communication about experiences with public transport could provide additional, complementary ways of supporting the modal shift.
In general, many of the deeper nuances of how people experience their travel environments are not usually included in quantitative analyses on mode choice and travel behavior. More qualitative and action research approaches that allow people to experience public transport and reflect on their experience can provide more in-depth knowledge about perceptions of traveling by public transport
The project therefore addressed the following research question: What are the lived mobility experiences of travelers using public transportation and walking in Brussels, expressed through the use of mixed-media communication? This question was addressed by providing 10 Brussels residents with a one-month STIB/MIVB subscription, and having interviews before and during their month of experience, and then a focus group at the end. Additionally, participants recorded their journeys in a form of their choosing, ranging from videos and pictures to visual essays and travel diaries.
Why it matters
This project mattered for Brussels because making the city easier to live in is not only about building new infrastructure or changing traffic rules—it is also about whether people feel confident and motivated to use alternatives to the car. The project collected real stories from Brussels residents as they tried commuting by public transport and walking, documenting what worked, what didn’t, and what surprised them. Those “commuter diaries” made everyday barriers visible—like confusing routes, safety worries, or accessibility issues—and showed what helps people switch habits. By sharing these stories publicly (through blogs, photos and social media) and working with STIB/MIVB, the project helped spread practical know-how and more relatable, positive images of using public transport.
Project objectives
Objective 1: Raise public awareness and engagement around sustainable commuting in Brussels, with an emphasis on walking and public transport as core components of a walkable, sustainable city, using participatory storytelling.
Objective 2: Generate qualitative evidence on how public transport is experienced and narrated, specifically: how PT is embedded in Brussels’ popular narratives; how personal experience + peer-learning can support modal shift; and whether non-financial incentives (e.g., social media exposure) can facilitate that shift.
Key findings
Key finding 1: Using artistic output, participants reported being more aware of their journeys and of where they found themselves in the city. This helps turning daily mobility away from being an automatic process, helping people focus on the journey itself as well.
Key finding 2: Having access to an unlimited monthly subscription encouraged participants to actually use public transport, although in some cases they would have walked had they not had the subscription.
