Being one of the smallest truly global cities in Europe, it’s no surprise that Brussels is also one of the continent’s most congested ones. To help clear up traffic jams and the air pollution linked to it, the local government has recently taken on an ambitious commitment to encourage its commuters to hitch rides to work.
To reduce the number of cars on the roads by 20 percent, the Belgian capital’s mobility ministry will offer a hitchhiking app it is developing in conjunction with a tech startup. With the app’s launch, local officials hope to urge people to rethink how they travel to and from work every day by creating incentives for car-sharing. Aided by innovative technology, the service would also reduce worries and increase safety, as some drivers may not be keen to take a stranger into their cars.
The best part of it is that, unlike existing carpooling services, the model will aim to stay true to the original hitchhiking concept by ensuring there is no money exchanged.
