This means both the 310 BMW and MINI are now parked everywhere in a 65 km2 zone; the largest free-floating area in Brussels.

The added areas means you can now pick-up or drop-off your DriveNow in various streets in Molenbeek, Koekelberg, Anderlecht, and a zone right in front of NATO’s office.

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Reservations can be made for either BMW or the MINI through the app and the car can be left in any legal parking spot within those zones.

The post DriveNow available now at Molenbeek, Anderlecht, Koekelberg and NATO appeared first on Brussels Express.

Interview with Christian Lambert, Managing Director of DriveNow Belgium.

Powerful innovative firms such as Amazon, UBER or Deliveroo are altering not just the way we buy things, but could also sweep away an entire economic model. Do you agree? Do you include DriveNow in this group?

Free-floating car-sharing is becoming rapidly an important pillar in urban mobility today. As on the one side, the cost of private ownership of cars including insurance, fuel, taxes and parking costs – not to mention the parking fuss/frustrations – is rapidly growing. And on the other side, the frustration of using only a car in urban environment, being not mobile but stuck in traffic, is becoming reality. These two vectors are pushing urban citizens towards a multi-mobility mode in which they re-discover freedom of choice, using a car only when strictly necessary.

We have today a high penetration of users within the employees of the very different European institutions which, due to their high salaries, can perfectly afford themselves private cars but prefer the much more sensible choice of different mobility offers according to their need at a very specific moment. Many of the families gave away their second car, for the time being, still keeping their first car. And car-sharing together with ride-hailing (Uber model) will become exactly the same as soon as autonomous cars will become a daily reality, and will then definitely and very profoundly, change the business model of the car manufacturers. This will be an enormous game-changer!

You joined two years ago the DriveNow team in Belgium. How are things going in this market?

We keep on growing in a very steady way and, so far, on a rhythm that we should double our revenues by the end of this year compared to 2017. On registering new customers, which in fact means changing behaviour of the Brussels citizen, we keep on growing our customer base. We’ll probably register more new customers in 2018 compared to 2017.

Did you adapt your business model?

The business model is the same as in every other European city but we have adapted our growth figure compared to the initial plan. The growth in Brussels isn’t as we planned due to several reasons. But we hope that the announced new legacy on the Mobility budget will leverage/enhance a bigger shift in the mobility attitude of the Brussels citizen towards a multi-mobility use, including car-sharing.

Your company is present in nine European countries. Is it difficult to operate in Belgium?

No. At least here in Brussels, the modalities to operate are well defined and the public is not much different as in other cities. To be precise, we don’t have a higher accident rate, vandalism or whatsoever. Our biggest challenge is the mode shift of a Belgian citizen towards other mobility modes abandoning the privately used car.

Why did you choose Brussels?

First of all, for the simple reason that Brussels – at least, the Brussels-Capital Region – is a city of 1.2 million inhabitants with a decent airport which perfectly fits our actual business model of free-floating car-sharing. Secondly, the local authority is convinced together with us that the mobility shift of the Brussels citizen will happen faster including very different modes of car-sharing – station-based, free-floating, peer-to-peer. Last but not least, the fact that Brussels is the capital of Europe certainly helped the decision to start in Brussels.

Did DriveNow grow in the last two years? Where do you stand regarding your competitors?

As the figures aren’t given public, it’s difficult to answer. I have a strong conviction that both free-floating players are close to each other. And I’m still assuming we are heading the two parties. But also, the conventional station-based players like Cambio benefitted in 2017 from the growing importance of car-sharing.

Brussels has high levels of pollution. Since January 2018, multiple vehicles are prohibited to drive within the 19 communes. How is this new regulation affecting you?

No, not at all. All DriveNow cars are complying with the latest Euro 6 emission norms. Most petrol cars, some electric, no diesel.

Do you intend to be present in other Belgian cities?

You have probably heard of the announced cooperation between the BMW Group and Daimler concerning all different kinds of mobility services. As soon as this will be confirmed by the relevant anti-trust authorities in Europe, further decisions on these topics, like expansion of the businesses, will be taken.

Can you unveil any surprise for 2019?

We have expanded a little bit the DriveNow Zone towards Molenbeek at Easter this year, and I would love to reveal other beautiful plans. But it’s probably a little bit too early. Hopefully, some good plans can be released after the summer break.

The post DriveNow is shifting the mobility attitude in Brussels appeared first on Brussels Express.

To celebrate this happening, and since it’s Christmas, we are offering a free registration on the network and 30 free minutes for a test drive! You can sign up here.

How does it work? More than words check our video at the Square Chasseurs Ardennais.

The post Christmas gift: do you want to try a Brussels Express car for free? appeared first on Brussels Express.

Today, we celebrate love in all its many glorious forms, including our devotion to the city we call home. And when it comes to love, it is best to say what we mean and mean what we say. Here are some things we can do to prove our sincerity each time we say, We Love Brussels.

1.  Observe cleanliness in public places. 

How you choose to maintain your private residence is your business. But once you step out and into the public places of Brussels, remember that you are in shared territory. Let’s keep our community clean and orderly. There is never a shortage of garbage cans around the city. Let’s put trash where it belongs. Not on the streets, by the sidewalks, or anywhere in the park.

If you often walk your dog, always clean up after your pet and dispose of waste properly. If you’re a smoker, make it a habit to throw your cigarette butts in the dustbin instead of tossing them onto the roadside or just anywhere. So what if you see cigarette butts strewn all over the ground? It’s not an excuse to be sloppy. Be one less annoying smoker and join the club of responsible nicotine addicts in Brussels.

For regular joggers, one habit worth taking up is “plogging” or picking up plastic litter while jogging. This new fitness trend from Sweden allows you to stay in shape while doing the environment a great service.

2.    Stay up-to-speed on what’s happening in and around Brussels.

Watch the news, read the papers. If you’re often online, there are several news sites catering to Brussels’ international community. Aside from your Brussels Express family, you can also visit We Love Brussels, Expats in Brussels, Expatica, and many more. Be interested, get curious, and care about what’s going on in your city. Awareness can open the door to more involvement and action.

3.    Exercise your constitutional right to vote.

If you love Brussels, then you would want it run only by people who have the best intentions and programs for the city. Fortunately, non-Belgians are allowed to vote in the communal elections taking place this year on October 14. But unfortunately, many vital policies in Brussels are decided above the communal level and by the city’s regional government. Want to have more say in the capital? You can join the 1Bru1Vote Campaign, and sign the petition to allow non-Belgians to vote in the regional elections. 

Voting is not compulsory for expats in Belgium. But caring for the city means wanting only the best for it. And the best doesn’t just happen miraculously. It is carried out by those we elect into power, and most of all, by all of us living in the city.

4.  If you have spare time, why not share it with those in need?

Brussels offers many opportunities for us to release the better angels in ourselves. You can lend a hand and bring some joy to the homeless, the refugees, the elderly, or the adorable furry creatures in a pet shelter.

You can find more ways to get involved through Serve the City, a global movement of volunteers founded in Brussels in 2005. The group organizes volunteer activities in homeless shelters, refugee centers, orphanages, and other charitable associations in the city. 

Volunteers are also welcome in the preparations for the communal elections this year. The Migration Policy Group is looking for extra help in assisting EU citizens in the registration process.

5.  Take alternative modes of transportation.

Ditch the car and travel around the city by bus, tram, or train. Shared transport systems are another sustainable alternative. There is a growing number of innovative vehicle-sharing services available in Brussels. Some of the top choices are  DriveNow, Cambio, Zen Car, Zipcar, and Taxistop.

Brussels is our adoptive city. Let’s return the love and take good care of her by reducing air pollution, protecting the environment, and minimizing threats to public health.

6.  Be kind and considerate in using public space.

You know how annoying it can be when people block your way down a busy sidewalk. Or when somebody suddenly stops in front of you in a crowded supermarket or grocery store. Or when another driver on the road swerves into your lane. But sometimes, we could be the rude ones.

Public space is not meant to be hogged but to be shared. Let’s make room for each other, and respect personal space even in public places. We are not the only ones in a hurry to get to work or someplace. Let’s not add to each other’s stress. We have enough already. Let’s make our city a more friendly, hassle-free place for one another.

7.   Make a regular date with Brussels.

Once a week or even just once a month, explore a new or different feature of Brussels. Consider it a date with your beloved city. Instead of visiting the same old places with your family or friends, venture into the unknown and the unfamiliar. It could be a newly-built museum, a park in the neighbouring commune, or a restaurant off the beaten track. You can also check out an event, an exhibit, or a festival.

Brussels has a lot of fun and surprises hiding behind its drab curtains. Uncover them one by one, and get to know the city bit by bit. Never tire of discovering and rediscovering the best and even the worst of our dear Brussels. 

The post 7 ways to express your love for Brussels appeared first on Brussels Express.