Previously, none. But now there’s Collecto, and it’s fulfilling an increasingly important role. Ever more party people and night workers are discovering the advantages of this city-run taxi service, such as fixed prices and flexibility. Last year was the second record year in a row for Collecto, with nearly 116,700 users.

The initiative was established in 2008, but it didn’t become a big success until reforms in April of 2010, when Brussels mobility minister Brigitte Grouwels decided to reduce the activity of the Noctis night buses from 17 to 11 lines. At the same time, she lowered the prices for Collecto from €8 to €6 per person, while pass holders pay only €5 per person per ride.

A promotional campaign made the system more familiar to the public, and the adjustments are paying off. After 2011 saw a record 94,600 users, the number rose again by almost a quarter (23%) last year.

Fixed fare

“More people are realising how user-friendly Collecto is,” says Inge Paemen, communication officer at Brussels Mobility. Collecto taxis are available every night between 23.00 and 6.00, taking you from 205 departure points across the city straight to your door. The taxis depart every half-hour from a tram or bus stop that’s part of the Brussels public transport authority MIVB.

Or you can register for the programme and book a taxi by leaving a message on an answering machine or sending a text message. The taxis belong to private companies, which receive a permit from the mobility department to participate in the Collecto system.

Although it can be cheaper to book a private taxi service if you only have to travel a short distance with others, the fixed price provides a welcome certainty. “All taxi drivers should give you an estimate of the price in advance and have to take the shortest route, but not everyone observes these rules,” explains Paemen.

Expanding to the suburbs

Official figures indicate that Friday and Saturday nights are the busiest for Collecto, by a large margin. On Fridays, taxis sometimes ride out more than 600 times, and these two nights account for more than 40% of the total number of users.

“This of course is not a surprise – many people need a taxi to get back home after a late night,” says Paemen. “But during the week, Collecto proves its usefulness for people who have gone out. The other main target group consists of the many night workers in the city, who can return home comfortably after a busy night.”

Many of the departure points are in the city centre because that’s where nightlife is the most active. “But we are looking to expand the number of departure points,” declares Paemen. “This can only be positive for the economic and social life in the communes.”

All taxis in Brussels are obliged to be black, but you can more easily recognise Collecto taxis by the black-and-yellow checked stripes on their doors. This checkerboard design is also on the sign on the roof, the so-called spoetnik. On the body of the taxi, you should also see two yellow irises, symbols of the Brussels-Capital Region.

Book a Collecto taxi on 02 800 36 36

www.tinyurl.com/collectobrussels