Unlike in Belgium's other regions, public transport remains the most popular method of commuting in Brussels. However, increasing interest in biking to work was also found too.
Across Belgium, private means of transport remain the most popular means of getting to and from the workplace.
Cars top the list, used for 78% of commuting trips, while the bicycle is now used either fully or partly in 41.2% of commuting trips. However, in Brussels, public transport remains the most popular choice for commuters, according to the mobility barometer of HR service provider Acerta.
Almost half (48.7%) of Brussels residents rely on trains, buses, metros or trams to get to their workplace and return home. This is around six times the national average of 8.4%. The drawbacks impeding its popularity in other regions – the lack of supply and frequency – are much less present in Brussels.
In the capital, public transport supply is high and cars are discouraged through various measures, making public transport a more attractive option.
When public transport breaks down, or if people live in poorly-connected areas, they prefer to choose the car or the bicycle. But the fact that the proportion of public transport users in the Brussels region is so high means that they consider it the best option.
More cycling, less driving
Overall, bicycles have also increased in popularity in Brussels, a trend seen across the country. Whereas in 2019 only 13% of Brussels residents relied on the two-wheeler, more than one in five did so in 2024. Nationwide, "only" 15% of commutes are done completely by bicycle.
This difference can be explained by the commuting distance. The average Belgian lives more than 20 kilometres from their workplace. Brussels workers live on average 14.5 kilometres from work, the shortest distance compared to other parts of the country. "And that is in favour of cycling. After all, one kilometre can already make a difference in mobility choices," Karolien Van Herpe of Acerta told Bruzz.
Meanwhile, the car is losing ground in Brussels. Around 41% of residents in the region said they would travel to work by car in 2024 compared to 45% five years ago.
Brussels residents are also strict in their choice of transport. 42.3% opt exclusively for public transport, 35.2% take the car, and 12.2% always rely on taking their bicycle.
