The resolution by the socialist political party Vooruit to allow bicycles on trains free of charge has been unanimously approved by the Parliamentary Committee on Mobility. The resolution also calls on the government to work toward a single combined ticket for all public transport.

Currently, passengers who want to bring their bikes on trains pay €3 during off-peak hours and on weekends, and €5 during rush hour.

However, the resolution is not binding. The next step is for the government – and, by extension, the railway company NMBS/SNCB – to take concrete action.

More bicycle-friendly please

According to NMBS/SNCB, more than 550,000 passengers brought their bicycles on trains last year, a 14% increase over 2024. According to Vooruit parliamentary group leader Oskar Seuntjes, who introduced the resolution, many more people would combine train travel with cycling if conditions improved.

In addition to eliminating the fee for bringing a bike, there should be more secure bike parking at stations and more space in train cars for storing bikes. For clarification: New trains have a minimum of 8 bike spaces, and via the journey planner in the app and on the website, you can see where the bike carriage is located on the train.

Furthermore, Seuntjes advocated introducing a combined ticket valid for trains, trams, and buses, as well as bicycle repair stations at train stations.

Not a legal obligation

It is worth noting that the resolution is not binding. It is a political signal to the government, but not a legal obligation.

The NMBS/SNCB aims to increase the number of bicycle spaces by at least 50% by 2032 compared to 2022. The railway company previously noted that bicycle tickets became cheaper during off-peak hours in October and that folding bicycles can already be taken on trains for free.

Record number of cyclists on Ghent’s ring road

The situation in the city of Ghent demonstrates that investments in safe cycling work. According to Joris Vandenbroucke, Alderman for Mobility (Voor Gent), the construction of new bike lanes, bike bridges, and safer bike paths has contributed to the steady year-over-year increase in bicycle traffic in Ghent.

In 2014, the first year the Ghent MilieuFront conducted a bicycle count, 9,072 cyclists heading into the city were counted. This year, 15,498 cyclists heading into the city were counted. Over a 12-year period, this represents an increase of more than 70%. Also noteworthy is that the number of cargo bikes continues to rise. This year, the organization counted 726 cargo bikes heading into the city, compared to 686 last year.

Unsafe situations

The city is also looking for additional bicycle parking spaces, including new neighborhood bike racks and a larger bike parking facility in the city center.

As for bicycle safety, according to the Ghent MilieuFront, there are still serious issues on Ganda Street – a street heavily used by cyclists – and around the Ghent Sint-Pieter tunnels. It is calling on the police to enforce stricter controls on violations that endanger cyclists’ safety.