Bike chain Lucien also moves into Wallonia

The listed company D’Ieteren, which is best known for importing and distributing cars of the Volkswagen Group and Carglass, is further expanding its bike chain, Lucien.

Having already opened Lucien shops in Brussels, Antwerp, and Ghent, it is now also setting its eyes on Wallonia. It plans to open its first shop in the heart of Liège early next year. So writes the endpaper La Capital.

Liège, Charleroi, and Namur

According to Karl Lechat, managing director of Lucien, talks are underway to take over an existing branch in Liège. The next goal is to invest in other major Walloon cities, such as Charleroi and Namur.

However, according to Lechat, the Walloons continue to see the bicycle mainly as something synonymous with leisure, and, unlike Flemings and the inhabitants of Brussels, they see it less as a means of mobility to avoid traffic jams.

Leasing formula

In this regard, Lucien also wants to focus on the bicycle leasing formula because it is fiscally advantageous. “In Flanders, 40% of the chain’s bikes are leased compared to 20 to 25% in the Brussels region,” Lechat told La Capital.

Moreover, since 1 May, employers have been forced to pay an allowance of €0,27/km to employees who come to work by bike.

Long-tail bikes for the family

The bike chain also continues to promote the cargo bike as an alternative to a second vehicle for the household. In particular, Bike 43, the Brussels-based company that makes long-tail bikes, gets a boost.

After all, the bike allows you to transport your family without using a trailer in road traffic, a source of stress.

Currently, Lucien, founded in 2022, has a total of 16 shops. Further expansion in Flanders is also on the horizon.