Here you can be fined thousands of kroner – if you have too big a backpack on public transport

Public transport facilitates millions of people every day, in several countries. Each country and city has its own rules regarding what applies in everything from subways to on board the bus.

Have you ever experienced being disturbed on the subway or the bus? Or have you perhaps been the one who disturbed others? Then you should be glad you don’t live in Brussels.

That’s how much it can cost you

In the Belgian capital, it is the newly introduced fine system that should facilitate the well-being of everyone who travels with public transport, on a daily basis.

If you consume smelly food or alcohol, carry a backpack that is too big or are generally disruptive, it could cost you.

The City’s Minister of Mobility, Elke Van den Brandtthinks that rules that have been in place for a long time are there to be enforced.

– If you use public transport in Brussels, there are a number of rules that you must follow. When there are really serious inconveniences, the control staff can now fall back on a clarified and comprehensive regulatory framework to intervene, he tells the site vrt news.

The rules are not new, but it is the fine system that has been added. This means that if you as a traveler carry a backpack that disturbs others due to, for example, its size or smell, you may be fined up to 175 euros, just over 2,000 Swedish kronor in today’s exchange rate. And that also applies to tourists.

nh2-general