Accessibility

The city of Ghent and the other cities in the province of East Flanders want to be agreeable and bustling shopping and hiking centres for everyone, including the disabled. For instance, as many curbs and obstacles as possible are eliminated.
Stepping tiles, ribbed tiles, sound and touch signals enhance safety and freedom of movement. In most cases the public buildings and sports accommodations in East Flanders and Ghent are accessible to physically challenged persons and adapted toilets are available. Restaurants, shops and tourist sights make every effort to make their business accessible to wheelchair users.
In the cities the pedestrian zone is the domain of pedestrians and wheelchair users. Car traffic is prohibited there. However, disabled persons and people with a limited ability to do things themselves are allowed to get in and out of cars in the pedestrian zone, day and night.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Accessibility of trains for disabled persons
The Belgian Railways provide a series of facilities aimed at the disabled.
However, this service requires booking at least 24hrs in advance. This booking will give you the certainty that the station of departure and the station of arrival are accessible to you.
It is also verified whether the train has any seats available and it is ensured that, if necessary, someone will help you get on and off the train. If your request cannot be met in full, the customer service will look for alternatives. In a large number of train stations travellers with a limited mobility can enjoy adapted services 24/7, from the first to the last train.
For an optimum service, it is recommended to be present at the station at least 15 minutes before your train leaves on the date of your trip. Each train will have seats for wheelchair users. A mobile loading bridge is needed to cross the gap between the train and platform: this will allow you to push you wheelchair into the train. The wheelchair (with user) must not weight more than 300 kg, be more than 75 cm wide and 120 cm long.
All information:
http://www.brail.be/nat/E/practical/limitedmobility/tips/index.php
In the “Reizen in België” (Travel in Belgium) section of this web site you will find an overview of the tariff formulas and information on services for the disabled.
You can also contact the Call Centre on 02 528 28 28.

Accessibility of buses and trams for disabled persons
BUS AND TRAM
as a wheelchair user, booking is required for both the on-call bus and the regular bus, through the on-call bus centre.
You must book at least 2 hours in advance. If you want a regular bus ride as a wheelchair user, you must book two days or at least one day in advance.
On the web site of De Lijn (the bus company) you will find information on wheelchair-accessible lines and stops. The bus or tram has room for a wheelchair with a maximum width of 80 cm and a maximum length of 130 cm.
The wheelchair and user combined must not weigh more than 300 kg. A bigger wheelchair is more difficult to maneuver and position in the wheelchair space, if not impossible. Position your wheelchair opposite to the driving direction in the dedicated space on the bus and use the safety belt.
Information on the web site:
www.delijn.be
For a bus or tram trip by wheelchair, it is recommended to contact the on-call bus centre of the province of East Flanders in advance: telephone: 09 210 94 94
TRAM: The new low-floor trams in the city of Ghent have room for the disabled.

Free public transport
Free public transport in the city of Ghent is available on the first Saturday of the month, all Saturdays and shopping Sundays in December and special days such as the first sales Saturday, the car-free day of September 22, July 11, ...

PARKING SPACES
Various free parking spaces are reserved for the disabled around the pedestrian zones in the cities, usually near the centre. Also, disabled persons are allowed to park for free in regular parking spaces of the city of Ghent, using a parking card for the disabled. And the paid car parks have spaces for the disabled (with the exception of Parking 6 of the city of Ghent). In other words, they are accessible for wheelchair users and the disabled.