Mechelen (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Mechelen will raise parking fees in the centre, open a 240-space outer lot, expand the M-shuttle to 6 days, and invest in 50 km of sidewalks and 35 km of bike paths.
As VRT News reported, parking in Mechelen will become more expensive next year as the city tries to limit car traffic in the centre. Rates will rise in the busy core, including the Grote Markt and the area around the cathedral.
Parking at Zandpoortvest will also become more costly, and the free weekend rule will end. On-street parking fees will increase from February 2026. The city will open a new free car park with 240 spaces on the outskirts and will run the free shuttle bus more often to keep cars away from the centre.
“People with a resident card or employee card do not have to worry.”
Alexander Vandersmissen, Alderman for Mobility (For Mechelen).
What changes are coming to parking, M-Shuttle, and bike paths in Mechelen?
Mechelen also wants to divide cars more evenly across its parking sites. Students will be able to buy a parking pass for Bruul.
“People with a resident or employee parking card don’t have to worry about this,”
says Vandersmissen.
The city will rename its Shopping Shuttle the M-shuttle and expand its schedule. The shuttle will run 6 days a week instead of 3. Drivers can park for free at Tangent’s peripheral parking lot and take the shuttle to the Grote Markt in about 5 minutes. The stop at the edge of the parking lot will be upgraded with public toilets, a drinks machine, a covered waiting area, and new bicycle parking.
Mechelen will also invest in walking and cycling infrastructure. The city plans to renovate or build 50 kilometres of sidewalks and 35 kilometres of bike paths across the municipality. Officials say the work will make it easier to leave cars at the edge of town, promote cycling and walking, and improve access to the city centre.
“We want to make our city’s 12 neighbourhoods more accessible,”
says Alderman for Public Works Patrick Princen (For Mechelen).
“We already made significant progress during the previous legislative term, and we want to do that again now,”
adds Vandersmissen.
“We want to renovate or construct 5 kilometres of road each year. That’s going to be a major undertaking. We’ll primarily be working on the access roads, since that’s where most cyclists pass.”
Mechelen has been improving traffic and transport in the city for years. In the early 2000s, the city expanded pedestrian zones and promoted cycling to reduce congestion in the historic centre. By 2015, new parking rules and shuttle services were introduced to control car flow.
Comments
17 responses to “Mechelen Increases Parking Fees, Expands M-Shuttle and Bike Paths”
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Oh great, just what we needed – higher parking fees and a shuttle service that’s now a whole day more useless! If only my wallet could grow as fast as those bike paths! 🚴♂️💸
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Oh joy, let’s all pay more to park while we bike our way to the “enhanced” city centre – because who doesn’t love a good stroll to save a few euros? 🚴♂️💸
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Just what we needed—higher parking fees and a few more bike paths to make sure we can *really* feel the joy of cycling past a sea of cars we can’t park. 🎉 Good luck finding space in that shiny new outer lot—might as well set up camp there! 😏
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Oh, brilliant plan, Mechelen! Let’s just make parking more expensive while we “encourage” folks to embrace cycling and shuttles. Can’t wait to see how many people trade in their cars for a bike in the pouring rain. 🙃🚴♂️
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Oh, brilliant move Mechelen! Nothing like raising parking fees to encourage a bit of foot traffic and give the locals a reason to invest in a good pair of walking shoes. 🚶♂️💸
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Parking fees up, bike paths galore—sounds like Mechelen’s just found the perfect recipe for a city-wide game of musical chairs! 🚗💸 Let’s all hold hands and hop on the M-Shuttle to avoid those ‘suddenly expensive’ parking spots, shall we? 😂
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Looks like Mechelen’s parking fees are about to take a hike—just what we needed, right? 😏 Who needs affordable parking when you can enjoy the pleasure of a leisurely stroll from the outskirts, eh?
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Look at Mechelen, trying to make us walk and cycle more while they’re jacking up parking fees! Must be a top-secret strategy to turn us all into fit and broke tourists. 🚴♂️💸
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Oh joy, more parking fees and “convenient” shuttle services! Can’t wait to pay extra to park my car while I pedal my way through the delightful chaos of Mechelen. 🚴♂️💸
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Increasing parking fees in Mechelen? Brilliant! Because nothing says “welcome” like charging more to park your car while you enjoy the lovely view of the cathedral from the bus stop. 🚍💸
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Oh joy, higher parking fees and longer bike paths – just what we needed to spice up our daily grind in Mechelen! 🚲💸 Bet the locals are thrilled to pay more for the privilege of squeezing their cars into the outskirts while they hop on the M-shuttle like it’s the latest trend! 🚌
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Brilliant move, Mechelen! Who needs affordable parking when you can take a free shuttle and enjoy the thrill of finding a bike path amidst the chaos? 🚲💸 It’s like saying “You’re welcome” to the residents while giving their wallets a workout! 😏
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Looks like Mechelen’s new parking fees are the perfect excuse for a weekend trip to the outer lot! 🚙💸 Who needs a car in the city centre anyway when you can enjoy a delightful shuttle ride, right? 😂
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Oh, brilliant! Just what we need—higher parking fees and a fancy new shuttle to remind us that driving is so last season. 🚗💸 Guess the city’s motto is: “Why make it easy when you can make it expensive?”
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Oh, brilliant! Just what we need—higher parking fees and more bike paths, because who wouldn’t want to pay extra for the pleasure of cycling in the rain? 🚴♂️💸
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Looks like Mechelen’s decided that empty pockets are the new chic! 🚗💸 Who needs affordable parking when you can enjoy a lovely shuttle ride to your wallet’s grave? 😏
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Oh splendid, just what we needed—more expensive parking and a fancy shuttle to remind us how much we love walking! 🚶♂️ Hope the bike paths are paved with gold, because we’ll need something to cheer us up while we dodge the parking meters! 🤑
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