Travelers who use public transport in West Brabant rate the bus services on average at 7.8.
This is evident from the recently presented annual Public Transport Customer Barometer. Stijn Smeulders, the deputy for mobility, calls this a wonderful appreciation. “Together with our partners, we strive every day to improve public transport in Brabant,” he says. “Because high-quality public transport is essential for the accessibility of our regions, reduces traffic congestion and contributes to a healthier environment. This is something to cherish and be proud of.”
Challenges
Of course there are also challenges. For example, transport companies across the country are facing a shortage of staff, and the number of travelers has not yet returned to pre-corona pandemic levels. “That’s why people sometimes think that public transport in Brabant is not in good shape,” says Smeulders. “But this image is completely wrong. Those who use our public transport every day now give us a very positive rating. That forms a solid foundation on which to build further.”
Bravoflex
More than 9,400 bus journeys are carried out every day in the province of North Brabant. In addition, the province has the most neighborhood bus associations in the Netherlands. With the Bravoflex hub taxi, the public transport system is becoming increasingly fine-grained. Bravoflex ensures that from 2025 (in West Brabant) or 2026 (in other parts of Brabant) every resident can travel on demand from a nearby stop to a nearby transfer stop, even in the evenings and on weekends.
Sustainability
In the coming years, the province and the transport companies will take major steps in making bus transport more sustainable, including by increasingly using so-called Zero Emission buses, which do not emit harmful substances. There are small differences between the three concession areas of the province. Arriva is responsible for bus transport in West and East Brabant, while Hermes provides this in South East Brabant. However, the differences in customer ratings between these areas are minimal.
