10,000 more secure bike parking spaces in Brussels by 2030

Regional agency Brussels Mobility has published a Cycle Parking Master Plan, which calls for 10,000 more bicycle parking spaces over the next 10 years. Most of the extra parking will be located in train and metro stations.

Besides the fact that many people have taken to cycling during the corona pandemic, the region wants to encourage people to switch their mode of transport by improving infrastructure. The goal is to triple the number of trips made by bicycle in Brussels by 2030.

At the behest of Brussels mobility minister Elke Van Den Brandt (Groen), Brussels Mobility calculated how many parking spaces would be needed to allow three times as many people to commute with their bicycles.

Ten thousand is the magic number, and they will not be simple racks but enclosed bike parking areas and secure cycle boxes. The region is looking into empty shops in stations that could be transformed into secure parking areas, for instance.

There are currently secure bike sheds at South, Central, North and Luxembourg stations, and those stations will see more added. Priority will also be given busy stations such as Schaerbeek and Jette, as well as final stops on metro and tram lines. Other major transport hubs, like Meiser and Montgomery, will also get more spaces.

Work on the master plan will start soon, but it doesn’t come cheap: Total associated costs are estimated at €8 million annually for 10 years.

Photo courtesy Cyclo.org