Brussels students demand more cycle infrastructure

Students in Brussels are demanding more and safer cycling paths, more places to safely store their bikes and a more cycle-friendly attitude among drivers. These are the principal conclusions of a survey carried out among 1,100 of the city’s students by student service agency Br(ik.

The survey demonstrates that 33% of the students, or one out of three, uses a bike to get around in the capital. A majority – 71% – use a bike because they see it as the fastest method of transport. Among those who don’t get in the saddle, 16% says it’s too dangerous to cycle in the capital.

Br(ik also notes that 44% of the students who don’t cycle also don’t have a pass for the public transport. “There is thus a real chance that, for these students, there is a large psychological gap between the Brussels they associate with their campus and the metropolitan city of Brussels,” states the report.

Amongst the cyclists, there is a heavy demand for more cycling paths. 84% agree that there is a general lack of cycle paths in Brussels. 77% think there is also a shortage of places to store their bikes, while 80% said that car drivers don’t take their presence into account, making the streets dangerous for them.

“A mentality change among road users in general, and car drivers, specifically is, next to the improvement of the infrastructure, essential to make Brussels more of a cycling city,” concludes the report.