Last Sunday, Flemish Mobility Minister Lydia Peeters (Open Vld) kicked off a new courtesy and safety campaign for users of the many towpaths in Flanders. The campaign calls for courtesy, safe behavior, and respect for the maximum speed of 30 kilometers per hour on the more than 2 000 towpaths and dyke roads.

Speed pedelecs, the high-speed electric bicycles, have recently been allowed to ride on the towpaths, at least if the paths indicate it with a road sign saying ‘bicycles and motorbikes Class A and P’ (P for Pedelecs) on it. The condition, however, is that everyone adheres to the imposed speed limit of 30 km/hour.

Speed limit of 30 km/hour

The towpaths are very popular among cyclists, but there often are conflicts between cyclists and riders of speed pedelecs. In 2020, there were 28 registered accidents on the Flemish towpaths. For the first half of this year, the counter is already set at 10 accidents.

“That is why we plead for courtesy and impose a maximum speed limit of 30 km/hour,” Minister Peeters said on Sunday in Stokrooi. “If we all respect traffic regulations, moderate speed, and are alert to the environment and each other, we ensure that every visitor feels welcome and safe.”

‘Sustainable mobility’

“The existing towpaths offer a unique opportunity to promote sustainable mobility and optimize the use of the paths,” explained Chris Danckaerts, managing director of the Flemish Waterway (Vlaamse Waterweg, VW). “However, it is crucial that all users adhere to the 30 km/hour limit to ensure the safety of other towpath users.”

Apart from the new courtesy campaign, the local police will regularly check the situation on the paths and focus on enforcement.

Towpaths are paved or unpaved roads and paths used for inspecting and maintaining rivers and canals, water management, and water-related activities, but they’re also popular among cyclists, hikers, rollerbladers, etc. Some towpaths are also part of the Flemish bicycle highway network.