Belgians most often traveled on foot (95%) and by car (94%) in 2022, according to a survey by FPS Mobility questioning 4 600 Belgians aged between 18 and 79.

The two most popular alternatives are public transport and cycling, with 65% and 56%, respectively. However, sustainable mobility is gaining ground, partly because of environmental and climate challenges.

Cycling is hip

The advance of cycling is evident from the survey. Almost a third of cyclists (31%) plan to cycle more in the coming year. Moreover, a fifth of non-cyclists say they want to start cycling. Even if these intentions do not always translate into behavioral change, says the FPS Mobility, the high figures show the growing popularity of cycling.

Electric bikes are also making progress. For instance, 14% of non-electric users say they would consider replacing their bike with an electric one for some trips.

Most of these bicycle journeys concern commuting between home and work or shopping. Interestingly, 44% of the surveyed say they never cycle. That percentage is notably lower in Flanders (26%) than in Brussels (65%) and Wallonia (70%).

Youngsters favor the train

The survey also highlights that more than half of respondents take the train at least once a year. Four out of ten respondents (39%) only use it a few times a year, but rail is much more prevalent among younger people. Almost a quarter of 18-24 year-olds, mainly students, board a train at least once a week. However, this proportion of regular users gradually decreases with age.

Finally, a quarter of respondents are identified as ‘sedentary’, i.e., they do not cycle or walk at least once a week. This proportion increases in non-urban areas, reaching 27% in Flanders and 32% in Wallonia.