Shared strollers and wheelchairs in Ghent
- Ghent, Belgium
People can borrow wheelchairs and strollers at no cost in Ghent, with De Fietsambassade managing these loans in addition to the bicycles, including adapative inclusive models, it rents out.
Service Provided
Free, short-term rentals of both strollers and wheelchairs are available in Ghent. The service is designed to support people who temporarily need mobility assistance within the city. Rentals are handled at a bike point centrally located in Ghent and are available during the bike point’s regular opening hours. Users can borrow a stroller or wheelchair for up to two days, enabling flexible, on-demand access to mobility equipment for visiting or moving around the city.
Intended Users
The service is intended for people who temporarily require a stroller or wheelchair, such as people accompanied by young children or less-mobile individuals. The original location of the service in the historic centre particularly served tourists who wanted to temporarily use a stroller or wheelchair.
Benefits
By offering free, short-term access to strollers and wheelchairs, the City of Ghent removes barriers and increases mobility options for people with limited mobility. People can travel in by bike and obtain a stroller or wheelchair for use in the city centre. People travelling by public transit do not need to ride with a stroller or wheelchair, they can borrow one from the bike point.
Service Details
Bookings can be made through the website, via telephone, email, or in-person at one of the bike points. The equipment is picked up & returned during opening hours at De Fietsambasade’s Onder De Krook location, which is located less than 300 metres from an accessible tram stop and approximately the same distance from the edge of the historic centre. The location’s opening hours are Monday to Friday 8:00 to 18:00 and Saturday 10:00 – 13:30 and 14:00 to 17:30. The equipment is able to be borrowed for a maximum length of 2 days. Borrowers must provide identification and create an account with De Fietsambassade.
The stroller is a robust 3 wheeled design with a basket below the seat and a sun-shade. Children sit upright in the buggy – it is not designed for use by children unable to hold themselves up.
The wheelchairs are a standard, manual (non-electric) model.
Financial Details
There is no fee for borrowing a wheelchair or a stroller, and they both require require a €20 deposit. De Fietsambassade’s rental terms state that users will be charged for repairs necessary due to damage or improper use.
The original programs (including the purchase of equipment) were funded by the city of Ghent. No funding is currently provided to De Fietsambassade for stroller and wheelchair sharing.
Stroller user
“Great that you can rent a buggy for free. We always come from Melle to Ghent by bike and don’t have space to bring a buggy. Thanks to the Fietsambassade, we don’t need to come by car.”
Ghent, Belgium
About the Service Providers
De Fietsambassade is an external autonomous non-profit organisation of the city of Ghent, co-founded by higher education institutions in Ghent. The organisations board is made up of representatives from Ghent city council and the co-founding educational institutions. It promotes cycling and cycling culture by offering a wide range of services, including a bicycle taxi service and running a low-cost bike rental program for students of local higher education institutions. It employs nearly 100 people and receives funding from the city of Ghent for specific activities. As part of its service offerings, De Fietsambassade also rents out inclusive bikes and equipment. This includes adaptive bikes, cargo bikes for transporting children, rickshaws, bicycle trailers, children’s helmets, and child seats.