Flemish people cycle more, but want wider cycle paths and safer bicycle parking
People in Flanders are taking the bike more often, especially for commuting to work. This is evident from the biennial FietsDNA study. Despite increased investments in cycling infrastructure, the Flemish cyclist remains critical of the bike paths: they primarily need to become wider. An increasing number of people are opting for an electric bike or speed pedelec (a high-speed electric bike), and cargo bikes and shared bikes are also on the rise.
Cycling is increasingly becoming part of the Flemish DNA. This is according to figures from FietsDNA, the biennial study by Fietsberaad Vlaanderen, which surveyed 2,000 Flemish people about their bicycle use.
The total number of trips made by bicycle has increased by 1% compared to two years ago. Commuting by bike rose much faster, by 3%. Wout Baert of Fietsberaad, which conducted the study, points to lease bikes offered by companies to their employees as one of the explanations for this significant increase.
"Infrastructure in Flanders is constantly improving," says Baert. "There is continuous investment in cycle highways and bike paths, but we also see that more and more companies are utilizing bike leasing programs. This ensures that people have access to a new, better bicycle, which they enjoy riding to work."
Cheap and fast
Flemish people have various reasons for choosing to bike more often. The study shows that, first and foremost, people in Flanders take the bike because it is cheap and fast. In second place, they do it because it is environmentally friendly, and thirdly, because it is healthy.
"In the past, we saw that people had more ideological reasons for cycling," Baert explains. "For example, because it was eco-friendly or good for their own health, but today we see that people primarily cycle because it is easy and affordable. This aligns with countries like Denmark and the Netherlands. Flanders is truly catching up with the top European cycling nations."
With 16% of all trips being made by bicycle, Flanders is tied for second place with Denmark. Only the Netherlands performs better, with 28% of all journeys completed by bike.
Wider cycle paths
Due to the success of cycling and the sharp increase in electric bikes, speed pedelecs, and cargo bikes, Flemish people are becoming more critical of cycling infrastructure. 25% of people in Flanders are dissatisfied with the infrastructure. Half believe that cycle paths are insufficiently adapted to electric bikes, and no less than 70% feel that paths are not properly suited for speed pedelecs.
More cyclists naturally means more traffic on the path, but with a greater variety of bicycle types and speeds, cyclists are also overtaking each other more frequently. "We see that in many places, cycle paths are still being built too narrow," Baert observes. "Not only is more space needed for overtaking, but cycling is also a social activity. People want to be able to cycle side by side to talk, just like in a car."
"The cargo bike is becoming a second, or sometimes even a first car, especially in the city."
Wout Baert, Fietsberaad
The increase in the number of cargo bikes is striking. "We see that 1 in 10 families with children now has such a bike at home. This is a good thing," says Baert. "It makes cycling accessible, and the cargo bike thus becomes a second, or sometimes even a first car, especially in the city."
The study further indicates that cyclists want safer and more comfortable bicycle parking. To encourage people to engage in "combi-mobility"—for example, combining a bike with the bus or train—there is a need for secure and high-quality parking facilities where cyclists can leave their bikes safely.
Breakthrough
Another striking result from the survey is the increase in the use of shared bikes. The five shared bike providers (Blue-bike, Cloudbike, Donkey Republic, Mobit, and Velo Antwerpen) together manage exactly 8,000 shared bicycles. In 2019, these bikes accounted for more than 7.3 million trips.
"In 2018, usage was still very limited," says Baert. "Today, we see that 1 in 10 Flemish people has used a shared bike at some point, which is a real breakthrough. They are primarily used in combination with public transport to cover the 'last mile' to a meeting or an event."
As in 2018, cyclists were asked about mutual traffic behavior: how do they rate themselves and other road users? The results show that the need for a better mindset among motorists remains the clear number one priority, although satisfaction levels here are on the rise.
However, the Flemish cyclist is currently less satisfied with the attitude between fellow cyclists compared to 2018. The increased congestion on cycle paths may well have something to do with that.
VRT nieuws - Gunter Joosen, Sat 26 September 2020
