Gilles Verstraeten: “Brussels is letting people with disabilities down”

As long as public transport in Brussels remains insufficiently accessible to people with disabilities, the Taxibus service needs to be significantly strengthened. Yet Brussels Mobility Minister Elke Van den Brandt (Groen) has no plans to relax the current restrictive rules. “People with disabilities deserve the same freedom and independence as everyone else. The minister is letting them down,” says Brussels MP Gilles Verstraeten.

Strict restrictions remain in place

Anyone wishing to book a Taxibus sometimes has to reserve their journey up to 15 days in advance. Users are also limited to a maximum number of trips. “Having to plan your movements two weeks ahead seriously restricts your freedom. People with disabilities should be able to get around just as freely as anyone else.”

Yet neither the Brussels coalition agreement nor the government's policy statement includes any plans for improvement. Instead, the government simply intends to deploy more conventional taxis to meet growing demand. However, these do not provide the same level of service as specially adapted minibuses. “This approach also undermines the relationship of trust between passengers and drivers, which is particularly important for people who often need assistance getting in and out of vehicles or loading and unloading their belongings,” Verstraeten explains.

“People with disabilities are not asking for special treatment. They simply want to be able to get around like everyone else, make appointments and participate fully in society. As long as Brussels' public transport system fails to meet their needs, Taxibus must offer a reliable, fully fledged alternative. The minister needs to improve the service,” Verstraeten insists.

More and more Brussels residents rely on Taxibus

The figures clearly demonstrate the growing need for accessible transport. The number of registered Taxibus users rose from around 400 in 2014 to 2,886 in September 2026. The number of journeys also increased sharply, from 138,426 in 2021 to 207,561 in 2025.

Ongoing accessibility problems mean that conventional public transport is still not a viable option for many people with disabilities. A wheelchair user recently told De Morgen that he sometimes has to let five metro trains go by before he can board independently. Lifts that remain out of service for extended periods also make it extremely difficult for people with reduced mobility to travel independently.

According to Verstraeten, the fact that two petitions concerning Taxibus have been submitted within a single year highlights the scale of public frustration. “For many people, Taxibus is not a luxury. It is a necessity,” he stresses. “Until people can rely on an accessible bus, tram and metro network, the alternative must work properly.”

Why would a new fleet suddenly cost €4.5 million?

Verstraeten is also questioning the future of the Taxibus fleet. Brussels public transport operator STIB currently has 12 minibuses, two of which are out of service. According to Minister Van den Brandt, replacing the fleet would cost €4.5 million.

Yet a new minibus costs approximately €150,000, meaning that twelve new vehicles would cost around €1.8 million in total. Verstraeten believes this substantial discrepancy demands an explanation.

“How has the minister arrived at a figure of €4.5 million? What exactly is included in that estimate? And why couldn't the fleet be replaced gradually over several years?”

Maintenance costs also deserve closer scrutiny. Over the past five years, these have averaged €118,387 annually. Verstraeten believes it is worth examining whether investing in new vehicles would be more cost-effective in the long run than continually repairing the existing fleet.

“This government can allocate €230 million to Kanal, yet supposedly can't find €1.8 million for new minibuses? That tells you everything about where its priorities lie,” Verstraeten concludes.