Pro Velo: ‘48% of Brussels bicycle commuters goes electric’

The number of cyclists in Brussels during the morning rush hour – between 8 and 9 a.m. – increased by 4 percent last year compared to 2023. Women represent 40% of Brussels cyclists.

The number of cyclists has increased by an average of 12 percent annually since 2010, almost five times as much in 14 years. A large majority (96%) cycle three to four times a week, 80% five or more times a week. The Brussels Cycling Observatory reported the figures on Tuesday.

One in two rides an e-bike

According to Pro Velo, the upward trend is explained by e-bikes making longer or physically more demanding rides possible. For example, more than eight in ten cyclists with children rode electrically.

Last year, almost one in two (48%) rode an electric bicycle, compared to 41% in 2023. The average distance traveled with an electric bicycle (6 km) is also slightly greater than with a classic two-wheeler (5 km).

Since 1998, the non-profit organization Pro Velo has been carrying out bicycle counts for the Bicycle Observatory on behalf of Brussels Mobility. These manual counts occur four times annually at 26 intersections in the capital.

A phenomenon in big cities

However, cycling is not only popular in Brussels. Bicycles—even shared bikes—are also an increasingly popular form of transport in other cities, in Belgium and abroad.

In Antwerp, for example, more than 7 million rides (+9.3%) were made last year with the well-known red and white Velo bicycles. Velo clearly had a record year, and October was a top month, with 744,248 bicycle journeys. Meanwhile, Antwerp has 320 Velo stations spread across the entire territory.

In Ghent, the number of bike-share rides grew by almost half last year compared to 2023.

Meanwhile, the bicycle-sharing industry has grown into a mix of systems. Well-functioning shared bicycles contribute to the quality of life and smoother mobility in many congested European cities. Shared bicycles apparently lower the barrier to cycling.

Belgium has most daily bicycle-sharing trips

An annual international bicycle-sharing survey by Cycling Industries Europe compared 148 European cities with bicycle-sharing systems. Of all the countries involved, Belgium had the most daily bicycle-sharing trips per 1,000 inhabitants in 2023, followed by France and Estonia. This is mainly a result of the successful bicycle-sharing systems in Antwerp, Paris, and Tartu, respectively.

According to mobility expert Angelo Meuleman, the combination of public transport and shared bicycles does indeed replace car journeys.