Residents of the Den Driehoek neighborhood in Schilde have long complained about nuisance from cut-through traffic and excessive speeding. In response, a trial period with a ban on through traffic was introduced in the area last year, in agreement with the municipality of Schilde.
The evaluation of this trial period was positive, leading the municipal councils of both Schilde and Zoersel to decide on making the measure permanent. As of October 1st, a definitive ban on access for through traffic, excluding local traffic, will be in effect in the Den Driehoek neighborhood.
Specifically, this ban applies to the following streets: Driehoeksdreef/Drijhoekdreef, Leeuwerikendreef, Uilendreef, Koekoekdreef, Spechtendreef, Fazantendreef, Eksterdreef, Mereldreef, Nachtegalendreef, Hertendreef, Hazendreef, Breeveld, Breeveldse Masten, Kleinhoefsedreef, Schaarblok, and Gazelledreef.
The zone is accessible to residents, their visitors, suppliers, public transport, maintenance and inspection services, police, fire brigade, and ambulances if they have a destination within the zone. Cyclists, pedestrians, and riders are always considered local traffic. Anyone with a destination within the zone may enter via any access road and move freely within it. Through traffic, which uses the neighborhood solely as a shortcut without a destination, is prohibited.
The residential area itself will not be closed off. The aim is solely to discourage traffic using the residential streets as a cut-through and to prevent navigation systems from proposing these streets as connecting routes.
During the trial, concrete traffic calming measures were also installed in the Leeuwerikendreef. These road narrowings will also receive a permanent placement this autumn, in the form of planting areas, similar to the situation in Schilde. Sections of the street will be alternately narrowed and planted on one side, forcing cars to slow down and discouraging cut-through traffic, while cyclists can pass safely.
