MOBILITY PLANNING

Reducing Traffic in Ghent City Center

2-MIN READ

How Ghent executed a groundbreaking circulation plan in partnership with local waze editors to cut city-center traffic by 40%, improve safety, and boost sustainable transit.

The city of Ghent implemented a new circulation plan to transform urban mobility across its core. The goal: cut off all main arteries going through the city center to reduce car traffic by 40%.

To execute this major overhaul, the city implemented key structural changes including:

14 permanent road closures.
Driving direction changes across approximately 88 streets.
Updates to 1,800 traffic signs and the addition of 5 new pedestrian areas.
Installation of 35 license plate recognition cameras.

By making it physically impossible to drive directly from one part of the center to another, drivers were redirected to the outer ring road. The transition was executed with the help of the local waze editors community, making waze the only navigation service with a 100% accurate map from day one.

"[This is] the most audacious plan ever executed in this country."

— Pieter Morlion, Partner

Impact:

The circulation plan made the city significantly safer, drastically reduced vehicular congestion, and improved overall air quality.

30% Less Accidents: Dramatically improved overall road safety across the city center.
15% Increase in Bus & Tram Ridership: Shifted commuters toward public transit options.
27% More Cyclists: Created safer streets that encouraged a massive increase in cycling.
Day-One Map Accuracy: Partnered with local community editors to ensure all closures and routing changes were perfectly updated in real time.

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Reducing Traffic in Ghent City Center

The city of Ghent implemented a new circulation plan to transform urban mobility across its core. The goal: cut off all main arteries going through the city center to reduce car traffic by 40%.

Impact:

Wildlife Protection

Sustainable COP30

Building Resilient Communities: Waze's Role in Sustainable Crisis Response During the Greater LA Wildfires

Enhancing Safety Through Collaboration: Onde Tem Tiroteio & Waze in Rio de Janeiro

Optimizing Traffic Flow: How Haifa Leverages Waze Data for Smart Intersections

Improving Highway Safety: How DER-MG Leverages Real-Time Data

Navigating Challenges: How Waze Improves Traffic Management and Safety

Saving Lives: How Real-Time Data is Making a Difference

Reducing Traffic in Ghent City Center

Keeping People Safe During a Natural Disaster

Keeping Streets Safer, One Alert at a Time

Using Data to Prevent Crashes

Easing Monaco Traffic and Launching Real-Time Messaging for Drivers

The companion that gets you - and gets you there. The companion that gets you - And gets you there. Download waze. Download waze.

The companion that gets you - and gets you there. The companion that gets you - And gets you there.
Download waze. Download waze.