One-fifth fewer accidents between cyclists and MIVB/STIB vehicles

The number of accidents between vehicles of the Brussels public transport company MIVB/STIB and two-wheelers decreased by 20% in 2023. MIVB/STIB describes this as “an encouraging result” and is launching a new awareness campaign.

The cheering message comes at a rather unfortunate time. Yesterday in Genk, in the province of Limburg, a 15-year-old girl was killed after a fatal collision, in as-yet unclear circumstances, with a bus of the Flemish public transport company De Lijn.

New awareness campaign

Last year, there were 87 accidents involving a MIVB/STIB bus or streetcar and a bicycle or e-scooter, compared to 109 in 2022. This is a fifth less than the previous year, while MIVB/STIB streetcars and buses drove more kilometers, i.e., 476,000 km more, and more bicycles and e-scooters turned up on the capital’s streets.

It encourages MIVB/STIB to continue its commitment to training and awareness-raising. This week, for example, another new awareness campaign was launched, in which the public transport company explained to cyclists, e-scooter users, and pedestrians why it is better not to cut a streetcar or bus route.

Slippery rails

The timing was not chosen by chance: in autumn, visibility is lower, and fallen leaves make the rails slippery, increasing the streetcar’s braking distance. The campaign also points out that a bus leaving its stop has priority and that other users cannot overtake it if the turn signal is on.

MIVB/STIB has also developed a workshop for future drivers to make them aware of cyclists’ feelings when overtaken by a bus.

More seriously injured cyclists in Belgium

The news from MIVB/STIB about declining numbers regarding cyclists and e-scooters may be hopeful, and the number of seriously injured in traffic in Belgium may have fallen by nearly 20% over the past 10 years, the number of seriously injured cyclists and e-scooters is otherwise on the rise. In 2022, for example, one out of every two seriously injured on public roads was a cyclist. They represented 49% of all seriously injured people, up from 37% in 2016.

Figures from statistics firm Stabel also showed that last year, one in five traffic fatalities was a cyclist. The lack of visibility plays an essential role in accidents involving cyclists. A recent survey by insurer AG Insurance shows that 7 out of 10 cyclists feel that the bike paths in their area are insufficiently lit. In Wallonia (81,6%), this problem appears to be greater than in Flanders (66,5%) and Brussels (62,6%).