Page 179 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Brussels Bruges Ghent & Antwerp

TR A VEL INFORM A TION  177

Metro stations in the city centre DIRECTORY
have electronic displays showing
where each train is in the system Useful Numbers
and all the stops on the route. STIB/MIVB
The older yellow trams are STIB info can be obtained at the
slowly being phased out. Unlike KIOSK info booths in many metro
newer models, these have no stations. Tel (070) 23 2000.
information on what the ∑ stib.be
upcoming stop is, so you need
to have a copy of the tram Villo
Tel 078 05 1110 (hotline).
network or ask the driver to call ∑ villo.be
out the relevant stop.
As well as the main network,
a few bus services in the capital
are run by the Walloon transport Most international car rental
A city tram travelling down Rue Royale group (TEC) and the Flemish agencies have branches in
towards the city centre operator De Lijn. These services Brussels, many at the National
have lettered rather than Airport in Zaventem or at the
Travelling by Bus, Tram numbered codes, but most Gare du Midi, where the
and Metro
tickets are valid on all the services. Eurostar, Thalys and other main
The authority governing train services arrive.
Brussels’ public transport is the Driving in Brussels The success of the Belgian
bilingual STIB/MVIB, which Mister Cash bank card means
runs buses, trams and metro Belgium drives on the right, and that many petrol stations, when
services in the capital. Tickets are the priorité à droite rule – which unattended on Sundays and out
valid on all three services, which means that the driver coming of hours, only accept this card, so
run between 5:30am and from the right at junctions has fill up during the week if possible.
12:30am on weekdays with absolute priority to pull out
shorter hours on Sundays and unless otherwise indicated –
public holidays. is enforced with Taking a Taxi
A single ticket, which sometimes startling Brussels’ taxis are fairly expensive,
allows unlimited regularity. Always watch but most journeys are short and
changes within 1 hour for vehicles coming cabs are the city’s only 24-hour
(excluding the Nato- from the right, no transport service. All taxis have
Brussels Airport Line 12), matter how small the a rooftop sign which is
costs €2.10. A five-trip road; some drivers have illuminated when the vehicle
Jump ticket costs €8; a been known to take is vacant. Cabs are generally
10-trip one €14. their priority even picked up at a taxi rank or
Single tickets can be One-day though it means a crash, ordered by phone rather than
bought on buses and travel pass secure in the knowledge flagged down on the street.
trams but cost €2.50. that they are legally Tips are included in the fare, but
Tickets should be stamped in correct. Always give way to an extra tip is usually expected.
the machines next to the exits; trams, who will ring their bells Give the taxi’s registration
you must restamp your ticket if should a car be blocking their number, its make and colour
the journey involves a change. path. Street parking, usually by when making a complaint.
STIB is gradually replacing meter, is becoming increasingly
transport tickets with a single difficult in the centre of the city.
pass, called MOBIB, which can Essential safety precautions
store different travel options at should be adhered to at all
the same time, such as a season times. Safety belts are
ticket, a ten-day journey or a obligatory in all seats, and
day pass, on an electronic chip. children under 12 years old are
The initial €5 cost of the MOBIB not allowed to sit in the front.
is offset by lower journey prices Drink-driving is illegal (the limit
than the Jump tickets. in Belgium is currently 0.5g/l),
At street level, metro stations as is talking on a mobile while
are marked by a large white “M” driving (though not on “hands
on a blue background. Tickets free” phones so far). The Belgian
must be bought and stamped police are notorious for
before you reach the platform. suddenly targeting an offence,
They can be obtained from so you might find one day
metro ticket offices and auto- they ignore you completely
mated machines inside stations, and the next give you a €50 Traffic on a busy main street in
as well as many newsagents. on-the-spot fine. central Brussels

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