A sustainable mobility policy for events in the

A sustainable mobility policy for events in the city centre of Antwerp Ecomm 2010 – Graz www. antwerpen. be www. traject. be | 02/10/2020 | page 1

Setting ►Antwerp is Belgium's second largest city ►The city of Antwerp has about 480. 000 inhabitants ►Antwerp and his districts www. antwerpen. be www. traject. be | 02/10/2020 | page 2

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Events in Antwerp ►Antwerp is an active and lively city ►However, the exact number of events in Antwerp is unknown ► No accurate knowledge of events organized on private locations ► No permission needed ►Number of events on public space is known ► Permission needed ► Approximately 2700 applications per year ► 90% are small events (<500 visitors) ► About 100 events attract over 1000 visitors www. antwerpen. be www. traject. be | 02/10/2020 | page 4

Events in Antwerp - Evolution ►Rising number of events every year ► 2008 2107 applications ► 2009 2628 applications ► 2010 already 1897 requests ►All annual returning events attract individually more visitors each year ►More and more events occur simultaneously (same day, same weekend) www. antwerpen. be www. traject. be | 02/10/2020 | page 5

Events in Antwerp - Locations ►Event locations on public space – squares in the historical city ►Private event locations ►Events that form a track through the city ► Antwerp 10 Miles & Marathon ► The Giants from Royale Du Luxe ► Passage of the Tour de France 2010 ► Antwerp Triathlon www. antwerpen. be www. traject. be | 02/10/2020 | page 6

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Events in Antwerp – (Mobility) Challenges Policy Document 2006: Local authority promotes Antwerp as an event city “Antwerp is a Dazzling City” An event director was appointed in 2007 Boom in number of events Mobility Management was “forgotten” www. antwerpen. be www. traject. be | 02/10/2020 | page 8

Events in Antwerp – (Mobility) Challenges ►The impact of the events put pressure on the city concerning: ► Congestion (accessibility of the city or event area) ► Lack off parking spaces ► Dissatisfaction with the organizers ► Small-scale traffic ► Increasing nuisance for residents ► Environmental impact ► Unsafe traffic situations ► Complaints from inhabitants www. antwerpen. be www. traject. be | 02/10/2020 | page 9

Events in Antwerp – Case 10 M & Marathon ►Every last Sunday in April ►This year on the 25 th of April 2010 ► 25 th edition ► 27. 000 participants ► 30. 000 visitors ►Besides the 10 M and Marathon there were 9 other events in Antwerp happening at the same time www. antwerpen. be www. traject. be | 02/10/2020 | page 10

Events in Antwerp – Case 10 M & Marathon ►Since 2008 the track of the 10 M & Marathon ran from left bank to right bank and back using both tunnels of the motorway network. ►Most participants have to cross the Scheld to get to the start ► Motorways could not be used by motorized traffic during certain hours ► 1 pedestrian tunnel available ► 1 cyclist tunnel available (very low capacity) ► 1 canal touring boat available ► A tram tunnel with high capacity www. antwerpen. be www. traject. be | 02/10/2020 | page 11

Events in Antwerp – Case 10 M & Marathon ► 2008 (number of participants in 2008 was 15. 000) ► Only police was involved (permission process) ► Police took traffic management measures but had no many alternatives to reroute car traffic ► The public transport company was faced with the problem of interrupted bus lanes because of the marathon track and could not bring people to their destination ►Consequences: ► Some 1000 participants missed the start ► Inhabitants of Antwerp felt hostaged ► On the motorway network around Antwerp congestion ran up to 3 hours ► The organizers of the other events were displeased www. antwerpen. be www. traject. be | 02/10/2020 | page 12

Events in Antwerp – Case 10 M & Marathon ► 2009 (number of participants in 2009 was 25. 000) ► The aim was to prevent congestion and turn the bad public opinion about the event into a positive one ► Police and the public transport company were both involved ► Police took traffic management measures but still had no many alternatives to reroute car traffic ► The public transport company and organizer of the event had made a new track that avoided bus and tram lanes (traffic management) as much as possible ► Consequences: ► Because of the high increase in participants there was not only chaos on the roads but also chaos in the pedestrian tunnel, cyclist tunnel and on the touring boat ► Inhabitants of Antwerp still felt hostaged ► There was not much improvement compared to 2008 www. antwerpen. be www. traject. be | 02/10/2020 | page 13

Events in Antwerp www. antwerpen. be www. traject. be | 02/10/2020 | page 14

Events in Antwerp – (Mobility) Challenges ►The Antwerp 10 M & Marathon is not an isolated case ►The local authority acknowledges the lack of mobility management and is convinced that it can help to solve and prevent mobility problems caused by events ► the local authority of Antwerp wants a coherent policy for all types of events ► Study agency Traject was appointed by the city government to define a mobility policy for events in the city centre www. antwerpen. be www. traject. be | 02/10/2020 | page 15

Traject – mobility management ►Independent consultancy specialized in mobility management since 1992 ► 11 experts, 2 offices (Ghent & Brussels) ►A user oriented approach of transport and mobility ►Working for different types of clients: ► Private companies ► Public sector: authorities, administrations, schools, ► commercial centres or poles of attraction, tourist attractions, events, . . . www. antwerpen. be www. traject. be | 02/10/2020 | page 16

Traject – mobility management ►Relevant experiences in mobility management for leisure traffic: ► Studies and surveys on sustainable transport to tourist attractions in Belgium and in Europe § European projects: www. smash-events-com, www. iee-stream. com ► Mobility plans and consultancy for large events § The Tall Ships Races (1 million visitors), Rock Werchter (320 000 visitors), Antwerp Book Fair (175 000 visitors), Tomorrowland (90 000 visitors) ► Creating a mobility policy for events in city centres § Brussels Capital Region, Cities of Antwerp and Ghent www. antwerpen. be www. traject. be | 02/10/2020 | page 17

A sustainable mobility policy for events in Antwerp ►A mobility plan for every event in the city ► Mobility as an important theme in the planning of the event, from the beginning ► Obtaining commitment of event organizers ► Creating chances for mobility management www. antwerpen. be www. traject. be | 02/10/2020 | page 18

Phase 1: inventory ►Overview of events and mobility plans ► Inventory § A survey among 50 events and event locations § Overview of the existing situation § Overview of the difficulties they are dealing with § Overview of measures already taken § Conclusions § Some very good examples and best practices § Lack of facts and figures from the organizers § Lack of knowledge and know-how § Role of the city administration and services is not very clear www. antwerpen. be www. traject. be | 02/10/2020 | page 19

Phase 2: introduction of mobility management ►Encouraging event organizers ► Facilitating § A manual for event organizers § Background information on the importance of mobility management for events § How to set up a mobility plan for events § List of possible measures § Best practices in Antwerp § Contacts in Antwerp § Support from the city administration and services § Inventory of services and contacts § Bottom-up & top-down www. antwerpen. be www. traject. be | 02/10/2020 | page 20

Phase 2: introduction of mobility management ►Coaching of 4 events in 2010 ► Guiding 4 event organizers in setting up a mobility plan based on the manual ► Setting up partnerships for future events ►Implementing regulations ► Evaluation of events based on § Number of visitors § Impact on the traffic § Mobility needs www. antwerpen. be www. traject. be | 02/10/2020 | page 21

Case: Antwerp 10 Miles & Marathon 2010 ►Basic ideas in the mobility plan 2010 ► Accessibility and traffic information § For visitors & participants § For inhabitants § For people travelling a longer distance ► Inquiry on visitors and participants § Where do they come from? § Modal split § Opinion about the mobility measures ► Spread of the arriving visitors § Using different train stations § P&R facilities www. antwerpen. be www. traject. be | 02/10/2020 | page 22

Antwerpen. Dam Antwerpen. Centraal Zwijndrecht Antwerpen -Zuid www. antwerpen. be Antwerpen -Berchem www. traject. be | 02/10/2020 | page 23

Case: Antwerp 10 Miles & Marathon 2010 ►Basic ideas in the mobility plan 2010 ► Encouraging cycling § Secured bike parks on the right bank at every crossing point § Discouraging river crossing by bike ► Public transport § Encouraging the presale of tickets for PT § Spread of the arriving visitors & participants ► Private transport § Encouraging the use of coaches § P&R facilities on a distance www. antwerpen. be www. traject. be | 02/10/2020 | page 24

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Conclusions ►The results of the inquiry were an eye opener for the city administration ► Action plan for 2010: § Focus on mobility management § Mobility scan incorporated in the demand of permit § Event organizers will be evaluated on the efforts they make § An action plan for the main event locations in Antwerp § Best practices in mobility management per location § Inhabitants and other traffic coming through Antwerp as target groups in the mobility plans www. antwerpen. be www. traject. be | 02/10/2020 | page 26

Conclusions ►Important partners started working together or joined the City of Antwerp in working out mobility plans for events ► B-Rail (national railway company) involved in organization of events in Antwerp ► Cooperation between De Lijn (trams & busses in Flanders) and B-Rail ► Cooperation with the Flemish Traffic Control Centre for large events www. antwerpen. be www. traject. be | 02/10/2020 | page 27

Conclusions ►A framework for mobility management for events in Antwerp is necessary ► What’s the role & responsibility of the organizer? ► What’s the role of the city’s administration and services? ► Which services can the mobility partners supply for event organizers? www. antwerpen. be www. traject. be | 02/10/2020 | page 28

City of Antwerp Karin Dries karin. dries@stad. antwerpen. be www. antwerpen. be Traject Mobility Management Bart Busschaert bbu@traject. be www. traject. be | 02/10/2020 | page 29