State Secretary Annet Bertram (Infrastructure, CDA) wants regions with declining accessibility to combine public transport, school transport and other mobility services. In a letter to Parliament, she said the Netherlands should shift from traditional public transport to a broader system of “public mobility” that anyone can book throughout the day.
Under the proposal, the government would expand access to WMO transport services for older people and people with disabilities. A wider group of users would be able to use the service. Bertram said the Ministry of Infrastructure is already discussing with the Ministry of Education whether it should also give students access to these shared mobility services.
“A mobility centre is the linchpin of the whole system,” Bertram wrote. “This is where all requests come in, where the characteristics of all travellers are known, and where the available vehicles are deployed optimally.”
The plan is intended to improve access to facilities such as healthcare centres and cultural institutions.
Downward spiral
Bertram warned of a downward spiral in accessibility outside major cities. She noted that fewer older people can now reach a hospital within 45 minutes. The ANP news agency reported on Monday that around 1,100 bus stops have disappeared over the past six years. Most of the closures were in the provinces of Drenthe and Groningen.
“The current system is starting to falter,” Bertram concluded. Transport operators are facing driver shortages, while buses often run nearly empty outside peak hours. She also pointed to inefficiencies, with vehicles from different transport providers frequently travelling one after another to the same destinations.
On Budget Day, the Dutch government announced it would invest €300 million a year to improve regional accessibility. The plans also include trials with self-driving buses.
@anp | NEWS BRAINPORT
