Thanks to government investment in safety programs and promotions, more people are cycling for everyday transportation in Flanders, says an official from Fietsberaad Vlaanderen, a Flemish bicycle policy thinktank.
Following the end of the pandemic through to 2023, bicycle traffic increased from 14% to 19% of all trips, representing more than one million additional bicycle trips per day.
Fietsberaad Vlaanderen reports that the risk of death for cyclists has fallen 40% over the past seven years. This significant increase in safety is due to the building of cycleways separated from motor traffic, more 30km/h (19.6mph) zones, and the wider introduction of local government measures designed to discourage car use, states the organization which is known outside of Flanders as the Flemish Cycling Embassy.
Such initiatives “have helped to get more people cycling and to make cyclists feel safer,” said Wout Baert, program manager at Fietsberaad Vlaanderen. The ten-year-old thinktank is part of the Association of Flemish Cities and Municipalities (VVSG).
Baert added, “People are also cycling further,” which he puts down, in part, to the growing popularity of electric bikes.
In 2015, there were 24.9 deaths per billion miles cycled in Flanders; by 2022, this has dropped to 14.9 deaths per billion miles cycled.
“The substantial investments made by the Flemish government, the provinces, and local authorities [have produced] real results,” concluded Baert.
“Cycling is a top priority,” agreed Lydia Peeters, the Flemish Minister of Mobility and Public Works.
She said, “This legislature, I am allocating $1.5 billion for safe and comfortable cycle paths. We support the provinces and local governments in implementing their cycling ambitions.”
There is a particular focus on the safety of child cyclists in Flanders, Brussels Capital Region, and Wallonia.
“By letting children grow up in a child-friendly and traffic-safe environment, we allow them to choose active modes of transportation such as walking or cycling,” said Peeters.
“This breaks the backseat culture and the idea that children can only engage in traffic when accompanied by an adult.”
Fietsberaad Vlaanderen policy documents stress that investing in bicycle infrastructure has stellar returns. $1 billion spent on active travel from 2020 to 2023 will accrue wider social benefits of $7 billion, mainly thanks to the long-term improvements in health, calculated the organization.
City of Genk Mayor Wim Dries, chairman of VVSG, said: “Thanks to Fietsberaad, cycling policy has gained a real place at all policy levels.”
