Ghent will introduce a social mobility budget on 1 May 2027 to help households with a limited income pay for getting around. The city has set aside €4.46 million for the scheme until the end of 2031 and estimates that about 11,000 households will be eligible. The measure targets transport poverty, which the city sees as a barrier to taking part in society.
What the budget can be used for
Eligible households can spend the budget on car sharing, bike sharing, buying or renting a bike, bike repairs, cycling lessons and collective transport to work. Users always pay part of the cost themselves.
How much households receive
A single person can receive at most €125 a year. Households get €125 a year more for each extra member, up to a maximum of €500. Higher ceilings apply to car sharing and organised transport to work: €300 for a single person and €675 for a household.
Users are expected to contribute 20 percent. The city gives two examples:
| Case | Maximum budget | Own contribution | City contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Household | €500 | €100 | €400 |
| Single person | €125 | €25 | €100 |
Why the city is doing it
The city calls transport poverty an injustice that it is tackling with the social mobility budget. It says it wants all residents of Ghent to be able to take full part in society, without barriers to getting around. Visiting family and friends, going to work and taking children to school or to their hobbies should be affordable for everyone, according to the city.
What happens next
In the coming months, the city will actively look for car-sharing organisations, bike-sharing organisations and bike shops that want to join the system. The regulation runs from mid-2027 up to and including 31 December 2031. For that period, the city has reserved a total of €4.46 million, and it estimates that around 11,000 households will be entitled to the budget.