Ghent's Circulation Plan (2017) — Six Traffic Sectors, a 51 ha Car-Free Core and Cycling Up 8–9% in Early Counts

Ghent's Circulation Plan (Circulatieplan) was implemented over a single weekend in April 2017. Counters had shown that nearly 40% of motorised traffic in the city centre was through traffic (11% pure transit, 28% semi-transit). The centre was divided into six sectors plus a car-free core; cars cannot drive directly between sectors and must use the R40 ring road. Traffic direction changed in about 80 streets, and the car-free zone expanded to 51 ha (restricted area up 128% overnight). Plate-recognition cameras enforce access, with a €55 fine.
Reported results: the city's early monitoring found the ring road working with improved capacity after traffic-signal changes; two cyclist counters showed +8% and the annual Ghent cycling count +9% versus the previous year; public-transport use at the 2017 Gentse Feesten was up 31%. The independent assessment by Transport & Mobility Leuven (TML), one year after launch and again in early 2019, concluded the plan achieved its objectives, with a shift to sustainable modes and strong cycling growth, and found that the polarisation between supporters and opponents had decreased.
Caveats: published sources give few headline figures for car-traffic change. The evaluation flagged problem spots (Dampoort, Drongensesteenweg, Frans Van Ryhovelaan), some main roads saw traffic increases, and the city itself warned of rebound risk.

Read the full analysis: https://www.tmleuven.be/en/project/circulatieplangent