Kortrijk – Starting September 1, 2025, a blue line will be introduced at the Oudenaardsesteenweg bus stop in Kortrijk, enforcing strict compliance with new regulations. Fines for violations could reach €500, and local transit authority De Lijn will adjust its operations under the directive of Mayor Ruth Vandenberghe, reports 24brussels.
According to VRT News, the new regulations at the Oudenaardsesteenweg bus stop will require schoolchildren to wait behind a designated blue line. Ignoring this rule could result in a GAS fine for individuals. This measure comes after years of complaints from residents who have expressed increasing concerns over student gatherings at the intersection with Beekstraat, where several schools are located.
Resident Emanuel Van den Hove, who has lived in the area for 12 years, noted the growing nuisance, stating, “More and more students are taking the bus here.” He detailed that students often congregate in driveways and on windowsills, obstructing natural light, and sometimes engage in disruptive behavior.
“While they wait, they stand in our driveways or sit on our windowsills, which reduces the amount of natural light. We also often see pushing and shoving among the young people, and sometimes they knock on the windows with their school bags.”
What measures is Kortrijk taking against student nuisance from September 1?
Local police have confirmed numerous reports detailing the disruptive behavior of students, including littering, leaning on cars, and vandalizing property. Mayor Vandenberghe emphasized that these incidents extend beyond minor disturbances.
“We see this in the official reports from our police,”
she stated, underscoring the need for firm action. A new safety initiative aims to alleviate congestion at bus stops near schools by painting a clear blue line to encourage students to remain safely off the street.
This decision follows consultations with residents, law enforcement, several schools, and transport operator De Lijn, which will engage in an awareness campaign to stress the importance of the new regulations.
Violations of the rules will be met with financial penalties, with fines set at €175 for minors and up to €500 for adults. Police are expected to increase their presence during peak hours to oversee compliance.
In addition to these measures, De Lijn will modify its bus schedule to ensure a more even distribution of services, especially during busy periods, and some routes will be adjusted to leave from multiple locations in staggered intervals to alleviate pressure at the Oudenaardsesteenweg stop.
Resident Emanuel expressed cautious optimism regarding the new measures.
“We’ve already raised awareness here, asking people to keep their driveways clear, but they didn’t heed that request. Hopefully, with the blue line and the mayor’s decree, we can take more effective action now.”
In recent years, numerous Flemish cities have enacted stricter regulations at busy school bus stops to mitigate safety issues and local disturbances. Notably, Aalst implemented crowd-control measures near school stops in 2021 after receiving similar complaints, while Ghent initiated awareness campaigns in collaboration with De Lijn and local schools in 2022. In 2023, Bruges increased police patrols at school bus stops in response to reports of altercations and vandalism.
