Much noise was made about new circulation plans introduced by Brussels City authorities last summer, whether from shops who argued that directing traffic away from the centre would cripple business, or locals who expressed their frustration by removing freshly-installed road furniture.
But despite the bumps along the way, the plan to improve central Brussels is proving effective, with figures now backing up what many walking in downtown have sensed: there are indeed fewer cars circulating through the narrow streets. Though only made public now, a count made in November recorded a 20% drop in vehicle numbers – now expected to be even greater and almost certain to grow as weather improves.
Pleasingly, this drop in cars is matched by a corresponding rise in bicycles – 20% more were counted. And the resounding success is that traffic on the Small Ring that encircles the centre has not become infernal, as critics of the plan said it would. In fact, GPS data shows that the time taken to drive around the ring at rush hour has, if anything, become fractionally less.
The big question is at what point a critical mass will be reached where bikes become the transport of choice and taking a car is literally a waste of time. Though some still see the city as a risky place for two wheels, it's certainly much safer than larger cities, where bicycles and cars compete on much busier thoroughfares.
If you haven't already, it might be time to get a bike.
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