46% of cyclists during the morning rush hour in Flanders and Brussels are children or teenagers who ride independently. This is according to a survey by the Fietsersbond or Cycling Union.
In addition to this 46%, 6% of children were being transported on an adult’s bicycle. These were mainly cargo bikes (43%), longtails (25%), or bicycle seats (22%).
Nevertheless, about a quarter of schoolchildren are driven to school by car, often over short distances, because parents consider the area too unsafe. That is why the Fietsersbond advocates for school environments and routes tailored to children.
Clear difference between the countryside and the city
De Fietsersbond also highlights the difference between young cyclists in rural areas and in cities. In rural areas, young children are more likely to cycle on their own: 24% of cyclists were elementary school children, and 8% were even preschoolers. In cities, 5% of cyclists were elementary school children, and 2% were preschoolers cycling on their own.
For the organization, cycling is the ideal way for young people to move around freely. “Being able to go out on their own is crucial for their development,” says De Fietsersbond. “The question is not whether children want to cycle, but whether we provide them with an environment where they can do so safely.”
The count was conducted over four mornings at 21 locations in Flanders and Brussels. During Mobility Week in September, De Fietsersbond will publish a more comprehensive report with local policy recommendations.
“Green light for all cyclists”
With the new campaign “Green light for all cyclists,” De Fietsersbond, together with G-sport Vlaanderen and Mobiel 21, also aims to emphasize the importance of accommodations for people with reduced mobility.
People with intellectual or physical disabilities, the blind and visually impaired, and people with reduced mobility cannot simply hop on a regular bike. That is why more people in Flanders, for example, are renting adapted shared bicycles, either on their own or with a companion.
But the cycling infrastructure isn’t always adapted to their needs. The ideal bike path in Flanders should be at least 2 meters wide in each direction. For people with reduced mobility who get around on a tandem bike, wheelchair-accessible bike, rickshaw, or tricycle, the width of the bike path is also crucial for pedaling from A to B safely without worry.
To make adapted bicycles more accessible in Flanders, the campaign’s organizers are turning to the Flemish and federal governments. For example, bicycles wider than one meter are not allowed on standard bike paths – an issue the organizations also aim to address with this campaign. And figures from 2024 show that just under 60% of bike paths along regional roads meet the required standards.
The platform www.gfietst.be now features 89 rental locations where you can borrow an adapted bicycle in Flanders and Brussels. The platform offers more than 400 adapted bicycles, and the website attracted approximately 21,000 unique visitors last year. By 2040, G-sport Vlaanderen aims for every municipality in Flanders and Brussels to have at least one Gfietst.be rental location.
