Belgian iconic motorcycle brand Saroléa launches its first speed pedelec

March 11, 2025

It mimics its predecessor, one of the first bikes with an auxiliary motor from 120 years ago, but it’s brand-new: the Belgian iconic motorcycle brand Saroléa’s first speed pedelec. It is fast, although legally limited to 45 km/hour, with two motors with 1,200 Watt peak output combined and a range of up to 130 kilometers. […]

Fewer bicycles than ever sold in the Netherlands

March 05, 2025

Last year, fewer bicycles were sold in the Netherlands than in the past ten years. The bicycle market grew steadily between 2016 and 2020, but sales have declined since the peak in the latter year. This is evident from figures from trade organizations Bovag and RAI Association. Sales peaked in 2020 when more than 1.1 million […]

Brussels’ Cowboy brings its production back near home in France

February 21, 2025

The hip Brussels electric bike maker Cowboy will now fully assemble its bikes in France instead of Hungary. To do so, it will partner with ReCycles, a French manufacturer with more than 30 years of experience in the sector, which will also manage the stock of parts. The reason for the move is to enhance […]

Number of car sharers rises by 22% in Flanders to 46,600

February 20, 2025

Over 4,600 shared cars were driving around in Flanders in 2024, 11% more than in 2023. The number of car sharers also increased by 22% last year to 46,600 drivers, according to the annual report of Way To Go, the former Autodelen.net. The same annual report also shows shared bicycles and e-scooters accounted for 24 […]

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

February 19, 2025

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 […]

Bolt and Dott tackle wild parking of e-scooters and e-bikes in Brussels

February 19, 2025

Bolt and Dott, the only two operators selected by Brussels Mobility for shared bike and e-scooter services in the Brussels Capital Region, are joining forces to improve vehicle parking in the capital and reduce nuisance. The joint initiative, to be implemented five days a week in the most sensitive or affected areas, should ensure more […]

Britons say no to doubling e-bike motor power

February 07, 2025

The British government has called off plans to allow doubling the motor power of e-bikes from 250 watts to a maximum of 500 watts. The main reason for not implementing the measure is because of safety concerns. The decision keeps the U.K. in line with EU countries where the exact same support limit of 25 […]

Belgium’s major bicycle show Velofollies attracts +39,000 visitors

January 20, 2025

The 17th edition of the bicycle fair Velofollies attracted over 39,000 people to Kortrijk Xpo. The e-bike was still central to the offerings of just about all manufacturers. Sales of e-bikes fell by 5.9% last year. With a drop of 11.6%, sales of traditional bikes took an even harder hit, but the second-hand market for […]

300 exhibitors get ready for Velofollies in Kortrijk

January 13, 2025

From Friday to Sunday, Kortrijk Xpo will host Velofollies, the leading trade fair for cycling enthusiasts in Flanders. At this 17th edition, there will be a lot of interest in gravel bikes and e-bikes, two trends of recent years that have not lost popularity. Velofollies is the second largest bike fair in Europe, after Eurobike […]

Commuter traffic accidents continue to rise in Belgium

December 24, 2024

An analysis by business newspaper De Tijd/L’Echo, based on figures from Fedris, the Belgian Federal Agency for Occupational Risks, shows that the number of commuting accidents in Belgium is climbing rapidly. The figure has risen to the third highest ever, and it exposes once again one of the pain points: inadequately adapted infrastructure, such as […]

Traxio: ‘New speed pedelecs sales plunge, used ones surge’

December 05, 2024

According to Filip Rylant, spokesman of the mobility federation Traxio, November confirms the trend of recent months on the bicycle market. Sales of new speed pedelecs dropped by as much as -15.1% (864 units) while second-hand sales continued to grow, with an increase of +7.6% (524 units). Consumers are increasingly opting for the second-hand market. […]

Traxio: ‘Bicycle shops give huge discounts to clear stock’

November 21, 2024

Bicycle shops and manufacturers cannot get rid of the enormous stock they have built up after Corona. Research by mobility federation Traxio shows that six in ten bicycle shops currently offer discounts of 20 percent and more. For the first time in five years, the Belgian bicycle retail market sees a decline in turnover this […]

Dutch traffic safety institute warns for mini fat bike for children

November 12, 2024

E-bike manufacturer Ouxi will launch a mini fat bike with a lower frame and smaller wheels next month. The Cooryda C80 Pro Mini seems to be an exact copy of the regular fat bike but in pocket size. It has the same robust appearance, but the manufacturer focuses on 10- to 14-year-olds. The children’s version […]

Dutch Swapfiets pioneer celebrates 10th anniversary (update)

October 23, 2024

Ten years ago, the Dutch Swapfiets was founded, the world’s pioneer of ‘bike as a service’. Three student friends from Delft wanted to offer people a reliable and rock-solid bicycle without any fuss. This is how the first bicycle subscription was born. The formula is quite simple: Swapfiets members always have a working bicycle for […]

While traffic casualties go down, 10% more cyclists end up in hospital

October 04, 2024

According to data from traffic institute Vias, the number of seriously injured cyclists is increasing year after year. In 2022, 7,300 cyclists ended up in hospital after an accident, ten percent more than in 2016. Cyclists are also the only group of road users where the number of seriously injured people is increasing. According to […]

Polestar and Allebike launch second joint electric mountain bike

September 27, 2024

Polestar’s collaboration with Swedish bicycle brand Allebike has resulted in a second joint e-mountain bike: the limited-edition Allebike Elize Polestar Engineered. This new bike, priced at €8,900, is designed for challenging off-road adventures, combining the design and performance elements that Polestar is known for. It’s designed to complement the carmaker’s SUV range. The new e-mountain […]

Bpost orders 168 new e-bike trailers for emission-free deliveries

September 18, 2024

The Belgian postal company Bpost recently ordered 168 new bike trailers, bringing the total to more than 600 vehicles. Postmen can use them to deliver parcels. The new e-bike trailers, which can accommodate up to fifty parcels and letters and a maximum weight of 150 kilograms, will be delivered in 2025. By 2030, all deliveries […]

Belgian bicycle economy worth nearly billion euros

September 13, 2024

According to a new study by research firm Transport&Mobility Leuven (TML), the Belgian bicycle economy is worth nearly a billion euros and has experienced growth of some 90% over the past eight years. Along with the Netherlands, Denmark, and Germany, Belgium is one of the largest cycling countries in the world. Many car manufacturers see […]

Belgian speed pedelec start-up Specter to expand internationally

September 11, 2024

Specter, the Belgian manufacturer of specially designed speed pedelecs, has raised two million euros in new capital to expand its activities in Belgium and abroad. In addition to the existing partners, Fundracer Capital—a new party with extensive experience in the micro-mobility and bicycle industry—will invest in the start-up. Maarten Baert, founder and CEO of Specter: […]

Shared bike rides ‘extremely popular’ in Ghent

September 10, 2024

Bicycle sharing is extremely popular in Ghent. This year, 657,843 trips have been made with a shared bike, more than the previous year. July was the busiest month ever, with 113,386 rides. A shared bike is a flexible, affordable, and convenient way to get around. More and more shared bicycles are also being made available. […]

Belgian Cyclis Bike Lease joins German JobRad Group

September 03, 2024

Cyclis Bike Lease, the Belgian bicycle leasing company, has decided to partner with the German JobRad Group. The Hasselt-based company was founded in 2014. Ten years ago, the company was one of Belgium’s first bicycle leasing companies. Cyclis has been the market leader Belgium for years, with 37,000 bicycles under contract. Among them are all […]

13,175 people on waiting list for secure bicycle parking in Brussels

August 22, 2024

Brussels has 13,175 people on the waiting list to park their bikes in a secure bike park or box, 701 more than in February of this year, reports the Brussels news site BRUZZ. Parking.brussels has installed new bike boxes here and there over the past months, but the demand for bike parking continues to grow. […]

SD Worx: ‘One in five already have a company bike in Antwerp and Limburg’

August 20, 2024

According to a recent survey by Belgian HR service provider SD Worx, in the provinces of Limburg and Antwerp, almost one in five employees already have a company bicycle, and these SMEs also intend to expand their company bicycle fleet by 9% and 8% in 2024 or 2025, respectively. West Flanders currently ranks third, but […]

Ford gives Mustang and Bronco on two wheels the reins

August 08, 2024

In the US, Ford has given the two-wheel ‘offspring’ of two of its most iconic cars, the 60-year-old Mustang and the Bronco, the reins: e-bikes with 750W hub-mounted motors providing 85 Nm of torque and assisted top speed of 45 km/h (28 mph). They’re the fruit of a partnership with N+, which has already created […]

New speed pedelecs are losing ground while used ones flourish

August 06, 2024

In July 2024, the trend of recent months continued: new speed pedelecs are losing ground (-17.8%, 1,119 units), and second-hand high-speed e-bikes continue to grow (+18.1%, 788 units). According to Filip Rylant, spokesman for mobility federation Traxio, the importance of the second-hand market is increasing very quickly. Two years ago, the number of registrations of […]

Lime listens to women’s needs for new e-bike and e-scooter designs

July 31, 2024

Lime, the world’s largest shared electric vehicle company, recently unveiled its newest electric bikes and scooters. The LimeGlider and LimeBike, as the two latest models are called, were designed using feedback from groups traditionally underrepresented in Lime’s active riders, including women and older riders, to make the new models more inclusive and easier to operate. The […]

Outcry over Brussels ‘Fastest Cowboy in Town’ app

July 31, 2024

An interactive app by Brussels e-bike maker Cowboy that allows cyclists to race against each other is causing quite a stir, starting in Amsterdam. Cowboy has temporarily shut down the app with “the world’s first interactive game while driving,” to reassess its safety, but the Brussels public prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation. It all […]

Dutch fatbikes have problems getting insured

July 17, 2024

Fatbikes are a fast-growing phenomenon in the Netherlands, with increasing risks of accidents and theft. That’s why a growing number of insurance companies are imposing very stringent conditions for coverage or simply refusing to insure them. The main users of fatbikes in the Netherlands are young people who refuse to wear a helmet and are […]

Traxio: ‘New motorcycle and used speed pedelec markets flourish’

July 08, 2024

According to mobility federation Traxio, registrations of new motorcycles during the first six months of 2024 increased slightly to 15,542 units (+1.7%)  despite the exceptionally wet weather. Only June was disappointing (-20.2%, 2,907 ex.), maybe because many people thought about their summer holidays rather than buying a new motorcycle. Flanders is growing by +3.5% and […]

Pewag comes up with pioneering smart bike lock Serea

July 05, 2024

It is very annoying to find that your expensive e-bike has suddenly disappeared. Therefore, a good bike lock that is difficult to break open is essential to protect your bike from theft. Austrian chain manufacturer Pewag is now competing with market leaders like Abus and Kryptonite, launching Serea, a pioneering battery-free smart lock with intelligent […]

One-third bicycle accidents due to failure to apply right of way rules correctly

June 10, 2024

According to a new study by Vias Institute, failure to correctly give the right of way is involved in one in three serious cycling accidents in Flanders. Responsibility for the accident lies as often with the cyclist as with the other road user. And two-thirds of accidents are largely due to human error. Still, according […]

Bicycle theft in Brussels Region tripled

June 06, 2024

Between 2015 and 2022, the number of reported bicycle thefts in the Brussels Region increased by more than 70%. This is according to a study by safe.brussels, the security management organization for the capital region. The rapidly increasing use of bicycles in the capital and region is undoubtedly making bicycles hip to thieves. 5,000 theft […]

Flemish provinces launch joint cycling website ‘fietsbarometer.be’

May 31, 2024

The five Flemish provincial governments have launched ‘fietsbarometer.be’, a website offering all information on cycling data. With the site, they want to map all existing and future cycling initiatives and gain better insight into the cost of investments in cycling infrastructure and road safety. Four themes On the website, you can choose from four themes: […]

Specialized, Gazelle, and Riese & Müller are ‘VAB Bike of the Year 2024’

May 07, 2024

Three bicycle models – the ‘Specialized Turbo Vado 3.0’, ‘Gazelle Eclipse C380 HBM’, and ‘Riese & Müller Charger4 GT Rohloff HS’ – are the winners of mobility organization VAB’s ‘Bike of the Year 2024’ election – the tenth edition. Ordinary consumers and a professional jury consisting of bicycle journalists and people from the bicycle leasing […]

Accidents involving e-bikes almost as bad as those involving motorcyclists

April 24, 2024

E-bikes are popular among the elderly, and the number of Belgians buying them is rising. Still, you better use a helmet when you get on your e-bike. According to a recent study from Zurich, the injuries you can suffer in a fall or accident are even more comparable to those of motorcyclists rather than conventional […]

MyBike: central register against bike thefts in Belgium

April 24, 2024

Yesterday, the federal and regional mobility ministers in Belgium officially launched MyBike, the first free national bicycle register to help prevent bicycle theft. The draft law for this was already approved last year, but now, therefore, the registration of bicycles can officially start. Owners can store the details of their bicycles, file a report, and […]

Lease bike as popular as a lease car among employees

April 19, 2024

Of Belgian employees who can choose to convert part of their traditional cash remuneration into another benefit via a cafeteria plan of flexible remuneration, 13% opt for a bicycle. According to an analysis by SD Worx of almost 100,000 employees, this is the first time that as many employees have chosen a bicycle as a […]

More and more Belgians cycle to work

April 16, 2024

According to a BeMob survey by FPS Mobility, 32% of Belgian workers used a bicycle to commute to work last year, either for all or part of the journey. This is an increase compared to 2019, when 29% of Belgian workers (partly) cycled to work. However, there are big differences between regions as, on average, […]

E-bike market share of over 50% in Belgium for the first time

April 11, 2024

Last year, 569,605 new bikes were delivered in Belgium, down one-fifth compared to the peak year 2022. Mobility Federation Traxio says the fewer new bicycles purchased are due to large stocks at bicycle dealers. Yet a historic milestone has also been rounded in the meantime: the e-bike achieves a market share of more than half […]

EU recognizes cycling as key element in its mobility strategy

April 04, 2024

The European Union wants to work on improving cycling infrastructure among its member states and wants to make (electric) cycling more attractive. This is stated in the “European Declaration on the Use of Bicycles,” signed by the EU’s three central legislative institutions on Wednesday. “Cycling has numerous benefits: it reduces pollution and traffic congestion and […]

French e-bike refurbisher Upway opens first Belgian branch

March 21, 2024

After Paris, Berlin, and New York, Upway, a French chain that sells used electric bicycles, is now opening a depot in Mechelen (Belgium). The new branch will create 65 new jobs. About 2,000 e-bikes will be refurbished monthly, and customers can buy them exclusively online. Research by Upway and iVOX shows that 29% of Belgian […]

Belgian Cowboy launches its first all-road e-bike Cross

March 21, 2024

Belgian e-bike manufacturer Cowboy is launching Cross, the brand’s first all-road bike. With the launch of the third, more robust long-distance model, the Brussels-based company specializing in electric city bikes also wants to target the more adventurous cyclist and consequently reach a wider audience. At 3,999 euros, the price is hefty, so it remains to […]

Sixth bike fair Bike Brussels is coming up

March 13, 2024

From Friday 22 to Sunday 24 March, Tour & Taxis will host the sixth edition of the bike fair Bike Brussels. In the event location’s ‘Gare Maritime, ‘ more than 150 exhibitors will guide cycling enthusiasts through the latest innovations in the sector, recent accessories that can come in handy for a trip on two […]

Amsterdam considers remote-controlled speed-reducing system for e-bikes

March 12, 2024

Amsterdam is considering introducing an innovative adaptive speed governance solution for e-bikes. The system is intended to remotely slow down the speed of electric bicycles as they approach the city center. Amsterdam’s Alderwoman, Melanie Van der Horst (D66), recently inaugurated a system demonstration. The initiative specifically tackles the challenges of congested bike lanes, aiming to […]

Over a quarter of Belgians ride an e-bike

February 21, 2024

The electric bike is becoming more and more popular. More than one in four Belgians, or 28%, used one in 2023, up 4% from a year ago. This is according to a survey by the FPS Mobility. The rise is particularly striking in rural areas. The regular Flemish cyclist living outside a big city uses […]

Dutch police newly armed to catch overpowered e-bikes

February 14, 2024

The Dutch police have a new weapon against high-speed and high-power electric bicycles. They recently introduced a roadside testing platform to check the speed of mopeds, scooters, and other electric vehicles, such as electric bicycles, speed pedelecs, and fat bikes. The roller test benches also check whether these vehicles comply with the applicable legislation. The […]

Trendy Swedish electric motorbike maker CAKE goes belly-up

February 08, 2024

CAKE, the nifty Swedish maker of premium lightweight, electric motorcycles and mopeds, has unexpectedly filed for bankruptcy on February 1st. The lawyer’s office, Fylgia, says attorney Jakob Callmander was appointed as the bankruptcy administrator, and tender documents are being prepared for the sale of the business. Its Swedish compatriot Polestar, Volvo’s electric sister brand, launched […]

Traxio: ‘For first time, more e-bikes sold in Belgium than classic ones’

January 22, 2024

For the first time last year, more electric bicycles were sold in Belgium than regular bicycles. E-bikes now have a market share of 51,2%. However, bicycle sales have decreased.  After the top year of 2022, bicycle sales dropped by 12,9%. Still, more than 600 000 units were sold (606 017 to be precise), or more […]

Belgian police to legally deploy lure bikes to catch thieves

January 12, 2024

A new legal framework gives Belgian police a legal basis to deploy bicycles with GPS trackers from now on. Previous limited experiments by some police zones with lure bikes were successful but time-consuming and required the intervention of the magistracy as the method could otherwise be considered a provocation. The city of Ghent, in particular, […]

E-scooter operators Dott and TIER to merge

January 11, 2024

The German shared e-scooter operator TIER and the Dutch-French micro-mobility company Dott have signed a preliminary agreement to merge the two companies to form Europe’s leading micro-mobility operator. Both companies reported this in a press release. The joint entity will continue to operate under the Dott and TIER brands. The merger is expected to take […]

Yamaha to set up e-bike battery swapping for Europe

January 04, 2024

Japanese two-wheeler specialist Yamaha Motor has created a new European daughter, Enyring GmbH, headquartered in Berlin (Germany), to offer swappable batteries for ‘compact urban electric vehicles’ via subscription-based services. With these vehicles ‘in the low-speed range,’ it means mainly e-bikes from ‘strategic partner companies’ using a compatible swappable battery. Enyring aims to start operations in […]

2023 second-best year for new speed pedelecs

January 04, 2024

2023 was the second-best year ever for new speed pedelecs and the record year for second-hand fast bikes. That is the conclusion of mobility federation Traxio’s spokesperson Filip Rylant. Last year, a total of 22 477 new and second-hand speed pedelecs were registered. The good news is that there is still room for further growth, […]

Decathlon’s 14 kg ultra-light electric race bike offers 100 km range

December 28, 2023

E-bikes tend to weigh a lot – at least 22 to 25 kg on average – mainly due to their battery and motor, but this can be improved, as the French sports chain proves with its new electric road race bicycle, the Van Rysel E-EDR AF. This one, offered at €2 800, weighs only 14 […]

Limburg drafts final plan for ‘Cycling Underground’ attraction

December 26, 2023

Limburg will soon have a new cycling attraction called ‘Cycling Underground’. As the final plan was drafted, things suddenly seemed to be moving forward for the new tourist cycling project in Kanne/Riemst. Limburg is particularly popular among cyclists. In recent years, the province spared no trouble or expenses to offer tourists special bicycle routes. After […]

New speed pedelec registrations slow down, used ones accelerate

December 11, 2023

The market of the new speed pedelecs experienced a further delay in November, with -20,9% to 1 018 units, which is 269 less than in November last year. The persistently negative figures reduce the cumulative annual total over the first nine months to -9,9% below the previous year’s figure. Private individuals (-33,2%) and companies (-15,8%) […]

Blue-bike gets more expensive

December 05, 2023

Most rides on a Blue-bike, a bike-sharing project of which the Flemish public transport company De Lijn is the main shareholder, will become one euro more expensive from next year. This is because the concession from the Flemish government will disappear. Indeed, for each 24-hour ride, the Flemish government has reimbursed one euro. From 1 […]

Belgian coastal bicycle highway is taking shape

November 28, 2023

The F34 bicycle highway between Ostend and Zeebrugge (Belgium) is taking shape. It will connect Nieuwpoort and Knokke-Heist and bicycle traffic will be guided via a 4-meter wide and comfortable bicycle highway, seperated from motorized traffic. Cyclists will always have priority at intersections on this highway. In 2019, Flemish Minister of Mobility and Public Works, […]

Speed cameras also to catch speed pedelecs in cycling zones

November 27, 2023

Municipalities will soon be allowed to install fixed speed cameras and average speed checks in bicycle streets. The Flemish government has decided this, reports the newspaper Het Nieuwsblad, among others. It is already happening in some Flemish municipalities. In the Bodukap police zone in the Antwerp region, for example, 22-speed pedelec users were recently cautioned […]

D’Ieteren’s bicycle shop chain expands in Malines and Louvain

November 23, 2023

D’Ieteren‘s bicycle division Lucien announces strengthening its position in the Belgian bicycle market by acquiring two renowned bicycle shops – Bike Planet Sport and Bike Planet City – in Malines (Mechelen). In Louvain, there will be a new store at the Diestsestraat 88. The two stores in Mechelen have built a strong reputation for offering […]

Honda presents first electric mountain bike concept

November 06, 2023

Japanese car manufacturer Honda recently presented its first electric bicycle concept, the Honda eMTB Concept, at the Japan Mobility Show in Tokyo. The mountain bike has a fairly realistic design and could possibly reach production in the short term. Debuting the eMTB concept bike at the Japanese Mobility Show is a big step for Honda, […]