Cycle highway improvements to encourage commuters to travel by bike

Cycle highways are stretches of cycle path intended to provide uninterrupted and fast links between major residential and business centres, to encourage drivers to travel to and from work by bike. The latest investment mainly concerns “missing links” between sections of existing cycle highway.

Mobility minister Ben Weyts (pictured) plans to see Flanders criss-crossed by 80 cycle highways in the long term. “The Flemish are undergoing a culture shift in realising that sport and exercise are not just for the weekend, but also before and after work, and even during,” he said. 

Economy minister Philippe Muyters, who is also minister for sport, said. “Why not take the bike to work? It lets you use the time you would have been sitting in traffic exercising. We want to invest more in our cycle highways, to make the decision even easier.”

The €8.2 million comes from the European Regional Development Fund and will pay for 11 projects across Flanders, including a tunnel on the cycle highway from Herentals to Balen, and a cycle bridge in Hasselt on the highway along the Albert canal. The government will pay 40% of the total bill of €22 million, with provinces and municipalities also making a contribution. The works should be complete within three years. 

The European financing also makes €1.5 million available for cycle highways between Brussels and the Flemish periphery, including the link between Brussels South and Halle, and a cycle highway along Haachtsesteenweg between Brussels and Steenokkerzeel.

Photo courtesy Ben Weyts