Bus stop BZOB in Helmond is staying!

The bus stop on Heibloemweg at the BZOB business park in Helmond is here to stay! Transport operator Hermes recently gave the green light, bringing the pilot phase to an end. Audrey van den Broek of the Helmond Business Parks Foundation is pleased with the development. 'This stop fits perfectly with our vision to make business parks future-proof by aligning with user needs.'‘

On average, about 30 passengers board or alight daily at the bus stop on Heibloemweg. A great score for a business park. 'So we already had high hopes that the stop would stay. It is very nice that this has now been confirmed and that the 'temporary' sign has been removed. That gives people more certainty when making choices for the future,' says Audrey.

Good accessibility is indispensable

And that is important for finding and retaining employees. 'The train station is located far from BZOB, and there was no good public transport connection for the final stretch. As a result, companies regularly missed out on new people. Existing employees were also more likely to choose another job with better travel alternatives. About fifteen years ago, we gave the first signals that there were insufficient public transport options.'‘

Great collaboration, committed companies

Thanks to intensive collaboration between Brainport Bereikbaar, the Municipality of Helmond, and Hermes, the stop was installed. Mobility Alderman Serge van de Brug is also pleased that the stop is staying: 'Many people work at BZOB. It is important that they can easily reach their workplace, including by public transport. We worked hard on this, and I am happy with the result.' Brainport Bereikbaar provided significant assistance in this, says Audrey. 'From the start, they involved employers in the process, and that was essential for the success. The municipality and Hermes realized the bus stop and route, while Brainport Bereikbaar supported us in motivating employers and employees to use public transport. For instance, they provided information packages in various languages and a public transport trial campaign. Brainport Bereikbaar also facilitated a hub with shared bicycles for employees who work a bit further from the bus stop.'‘

Bus stop, shared bikes, and walking path

The result is impressive. The bus stop was used from the very first day. 'Most travelers come from Helmond or neighboring municipalities, but there is also a loyal user from Rotterdam. He comes by train and bus and picks up a shared bike at the hub. Sustainable and good for accessibility: exactly the picture we envisioned. Brainport Bereikbaar facilitated that hub with shared bikes as a pilot. That coincided perfectly with the opening of the bus stop. And just before that, as a park organization, we had created a walking path at the bus stop.'‘

Persistence pays off

The success leaves us wanting more, Audrey emphasizes. 'There are bound to be more people for whom traveling by bus is a great solution. That is why we want to encourage the use of the public transport stop even further. This way, we continue to work together on the bigger picture: making the business park future-proof by aligning with the needs of the people who use it. We are certain it can be done, because this bus stop proves that persistence pays off!'‘