In Brussels, tourists approve of electric carriages

The capital of Belgium has swapped its horse-drawn carriage rides for electric carriage rides.

Brussels is seeking to address tourists’ concerns about animal welfare. The Belgian capital has become the first European city to completely stop horse-drawn carriage rides. Instead, tourists will ride in an electric carriage, which resembles an old car from the late 19th century.

A bell announces the passage of this much quieter than usual carriage through the crowd of the Grand-Place in Brussels. There is no sound of hooves on the cobblestones, because there are no more horses. “It reminds me of the Belle Époque”comments a tourist. Many people stop to admire this elegant black and green varnished carriage that is reminiscent of the first electric cars.

“It’s inspired by an old electric carconfirms Alfredo Almendro, driver, or coachman, as he likes to be called. The first was invented by Robert Anderson in 1832.

“The car has a range of 150 kilometers.”

Alfredo, electric carriage driver

to francinfo

At 70 euros per ride, modern carriages are popular. Tourists approve of this decision in favour of animal welfare: “I’m an animal rights activist and I’m vegan. So for me, this is a great idea.”says one of them, “because before, we had poor horses that were on duty all day, we felt sick”completes another.

Faced with a public more attentive to the needs of animals, the manager of electric tourist vehicles is already receiving requests from other interested cities.