Record number of injuries on Car Free Sunday

This doesn't really surprise me. Yesterday, as every year, I found it quite unpleasant to be out and about on Car-Free Sunday thanks to the many cyclists who ignore the rules. As both a pedestrian and cyclist, I find the whole day to be an annoyingly artificial construct; I would prefer simply more efforts throughout the year to support and promote car-free mobility under normal conditions.

JANROBINSON I couldn't agree more. I live in Laeken and yesterday two bright sparks even thought it would be a good idea to ride horses on the pavement! Without hats, at that. Improve car pooling and public transport, scrap car fee Sunday! Although it is pleasant to wake up to near silence... :)

It didn't stop the noise from the 'planes flying over my garden

Ditto JanRob!

What a bunch of crabby crybabies ! Such a wonderful enjoyable day that so many take pleasure in. If you don't like it, you need help!

So, R.HARRIS, I take it no freestyle cyclist rode their bike over your toes then. Lucky you.

Jan/Rob/Colm - couldn't agree more. It just seems to be an excuse for urban activists to don bright clothing and go mad in the city. Haven't taken in my children for years now since one was knocked flying by a cyclist riding on the pavement even though both the road and a cycle path were available to her in 2007!

What a ridiculous article.

What does the Bulletin have against car free day? Thousands of people left their cars at home, and took to the streets and talked to each other instead of steaming inside their metal cages. No smell of pollution, you could hear human voices for a change, and the city seemed more, well, human! Kids were skateboarding down Chaussee de Waterloo for god's sake. Yet, all you can write about is injuries? Less pollution, less traffic jams, less diabetes, less obesity, and less nonsense. Every Sunday should be car free day. Then we can progress to 7 days a week.

But then, good, pleasant news doesn't fit the "if it bleeds it leads" style of journalism" that gets people wound up. Did The Bulletin just stay at home an mope because it couldn't drive around the inner ring?

Best regards

Dave

I am annoyed with the cycling policy already for a long time here in Brussels. Cyclists are thrown into the deep end. In my opinion you must be really stupid to cycle as an inexperienced cyclist in Brussels, especially with those heavy yellow velos. I also do not understand cyclists who think that they are so good that they can cycle on the ring or on, for example, on the busy General Jacques lane, these people are even more stupid. There are enough calmer streets which run parallel to these busy roads and much nicer and safer to cycle on. Everyone thinks that they can cycle, I think it would be a good idea to have cyclist exams, to learn how to behave as a cyclist in traffic. Years ago when there were not many cyclists, there were a few aggressive kamikaze cyclists. Experienced cyclists but, unfortunaly, they saw the roads as one big racing track and kicking dents in cars on their way. Now you get all kinds. I have seen cyclists obstructing car traffic on purpose, for example by cycling on the roundabout for a long time not letting cars in and thus creating a traffic jam, sad. So stupid again. I would say bring on that cycling exam, it is really really needed and necessary!!!

I love the car free day and think it's a great concept. But I would enjoy it a lot more if more people (and yes, I do mean predominantly the cyclists) understood that "car free day" does not mean the same as "no traffic rules day". We took a long walk in the center of the city and it was lovely. From previous years we had learned enough to stick to the side streets mainly, but unfortunately we had to cross Rue de a Loi and a couple of other big streets during the walk. The number of cyclists who blatantly ignored the red lights was shocking. We crossed the street when the light was green for us (after patiently waiting for it to turn green) and a guy almost hit us going full speed on his bike against a red light. To him it seemingly did not occur at all that the rules about red lights are equally valid on car free day. He indeed looked angry that we had the audacity to cross the street and hinder his progress. It was by sheer luck and our quick reflexes that we did not end up among the "record number of injuries".
I would whole heartedly support a "car and cyclist free day"!

I'm all for the free day cycling, but indeed, we got almost run over by some cyclists who decided that the red light didn't apply to them. Then when we were riding, we had to be careful as some people were taking the curves as if they were in the F1 competition.

And for those who complain about the pollution and all that, just move to a farm miles away from the city. There you can ride your horse wagon and don't have to worry about the noise from the cars, the trains, etc.

Instead of declaring level 4, the Belgian PM should have declared a car free weekend - this would have made it easier to spot anyone trying to leave the city ... and if they were on a bike they would not have got far...

Instead of declaring level 4, the Belgian PM should have declared a car free weekend - this would have made it easier to spot anyone trying to leave the city ... and if they were on a bike they would not have got far...