The federal government will increase the bicycle allowance for those who commute by bicycle from 0,27 euros to 0,35 euros per kilometer. In addition to the increase, there will be an annual ceiling for the tax exemption of 2 500 euros per year.

According to figures from HR service provider SD Worx, almost one in three Belgian employers made a bicycle allowance available to their employees last year. Five years ago, that was only half. The share of employees with a bicycle allowance doubled in five years from 7% in 2017 to 14% in 2022.

More bikes, fewer traffic jams

Minister of Mobility Georges Gilkinet (Ecolo) is satisfied. “More cyclists means fewer traffic jams, more fit employees, and fewer CO2 emissions. This measure is good for our economy, for general well-being, the climate, and especially for the wallets of our employees.

Since May, all workers in the private sector are entitled to a bicycle allowance. More Belgians are willing to cycle to work and receive such an allowance, The bicycle allowance applies to all types of city or hybrid bicycles (the mix of city and mountain bikes).

East Flanders, Antwerp, and West Flanders are leading regarding employers and employees with bicycle allowances. Employees in Brussels and West Flanders cycled the most kilometers to and from work in 2021. Increased fuel prices are expected to get more people out of their cars and onto their bikes.