Bruges and Hasselt most bike-friendly cities, says Test-Achats

Bruges and Hasselt are the most cycling-friendly cities in Belgium, according to a survey by Test-Achats which last year polled 4,500 residents from 12 Belgian cities, writes Knack. While the results show that all of the cities have room for improvement when it comes to bicycle friendliness, Bruges and Hasselt stand out above the rest for their developed cycle path networks, ample bicycle parking and traffic safety statistics.

The poll also reveals that a third of city residents in Flanders bike to school, work or a shop, while more than half of the city dwellers in Wallonia never take the bike for short daily trips. The main reason is that most cities lack a large network of well-maintained cycle paths. About 71% of respondents believe that local government should invest more in cycling infrastructure.

Road safety is another major stumbling block for the urban cyclist, with 46% admitting they wouldn't dare to venture out into the city by bike. Another 41% complained about the lack of facilities to store bicycles.

The exposure to particulate matter and air pollutants is another reason city residents gave as a reason not to ride. Brussels scores worst of all in this aspect, followed by Antwerp and Charleroi. Wavre and Bruges come out on top in terms of air quality.