It’s over! In this city, vandalism is ruining car sharing
Less than 2 years after its arrival, the car-sharing service Poppy is closing down in Liège. The Belgian car-sharing company made this decision due to vandalism and the high number of accidents with its cars.
Poppy is a well-known car-sharing service in Belgium. It was launched by the Belgian importer of the Volkswagen group, D’Ieteren. Its red cars have established their base in several cities, including Liège in 2023, with the support of local authorities who offered free parking. Unfortunately, the Ardent City will no longer see the red Poppy on its streets as of October 31, 2024. Liège airport will no longer be covered either.
Incivility
The self-service smartphone car-sharing company explains its decision based on a lack of respect: “The results of our activity were very good right away in Liège, but the rate of vandalism and accidents was very high”. The hundred or so Liège cars will be returned to the fleets of Antwerp and Brussels, and the airports of Brussels, Charleroi and Antwerp.
(MH with Olivier Duquesne – Sources: Todayinliege & RTBF – Picture: © Poppy / D’Ieteren)