The number of cyclists on Brussels roads has risen by 7% in the space of a year, Brussels Mobility confirmed to the Belga News Agency on Monday.
According to the calculations of Brussels Mobility, the number of cyclists has still risen by 7% this year. "We can only be satisfied, as it shows that our efforts to offer cycling infrastructure to as many people as possible are bearing fruit," states Inge Paemen, spokesperson for the regional public service.
While the news is being received as positive, last year, the increase was 40%, which means the rate has decidedly slowed down in 2023 after a pandemic boom.
Brussels Minister of Mobility, Elke Van den Brandt, expressed her satisfaction with the rising number of Brussels residents cycling.
"Traffic safety and proper bicycle paths are crucial to ensuring a rising number of cycling movements. You can certainly link the spectacular rise in cyclists over the past four years to increased infrastructure," explained the minister. "A success story, but the work isn't over. We will continue to invest in safe cycling paths."
Credit: Belga / Laurie Dieffembacq
Last Friday, according to Bruzz, the ten-millionth cyclist or scooter user passed in front of one of the counters located across the Brussels Region.
While Brussels Mobility celebrated the announcement, it noted the numbers need to be better qualified. The counters may give an over-optimistic picture given that some cyclists will pass the same counter several times.
"We need to put this open data into perspective," says Inge Paemen, spokesperson for Brussels Mobility. "Ten million cyclists is great news. But if we install more charging stations, more cyclists will be counted." Placing a counting station on a busy thoroughfare can also significantly distort the data.
However, cycling in the city is still enjoying its upward trend. Brussels Mobility study found in June this year that the proportion of journeys undertaken by bicycle increased from 3% to 9%, with one in five Brussels residents saying they cycle "every day" or "once or several times a week."
