Belgian bus stop sign (P1000651)

Sunday 24 March 2019 – The wall inside the small museum at Lodge’s Coaches in the village of High Easter, Essex displays a fine collection of bus stops and agency signs.

What I think was the only foreign item on display was this bus stop from Belgium. It originated from the village of Wolfgat near Ronse in East Flanders. Wolfgat is the bus stop identity, ‘49’ is the fare stage number and ‘86c’ the bus service number for buses heading towards Oudenaarde via Schorisse. A 1991 timetable for the service may be seen via this link www.zone01.be/collecties/document/1991-de-lijn-86c-86d
I am puzzled as to what the handle is for!