Talking Dutch: If it’s Wednesday, I must be wearing lycra
A campaign aims to get Flanders to ditch the car and travel by bike at least once a week, in the name of the environment and our health
Derek Blyth on the latest health campaign
Now there’s a new date to mark in your diary, according to De Standaard. Onder de naam Woensdag Fietsdag – Known as Biking Wednesday is in Leuven een campagne gelanceerd – a campaign has been launched in Leuven om mensen aan te zetten de fiets te gebruiken – to encourage people to use their bicycles.
Die campagne wil alle Vlamingen minstens één dag per week op de fiets krijgen – This campaign wants to get all Flemish people on their bikes at least one day a week. They are promoting it with the hashtag #GoWithTheVelo.
And there’s no excuses. De campagne mikt op iedereen – The campaign is aimed at everyone. Zowel zij die al fietsen – Both those who already cycle als zij die dat nog niet doen om allerlei redenen – and those who don’t for one reason or another.
It’s going to be a struggle, the organisers admit. Meer dan een op de drie Vlamingen fietst nooit – more than one-third of Flemish people never cycle, according to a recent survey.
Make a difference
But the organisers still believe it’s worth doing. Die ene dag per week op de fiets is haalbaar – That one day a week on the bike can be done en die kan al een groot verschil betekenen – and even that can make a big difference, zowel voor de gezondheid – for health as well as, voor het milieu – for the environment als voor de fileproblemen – and in tackling traffic jams.
But some experts are not so sure. Dat is preken voor de eigen kerk – It’s preaching to the converted, said Dutch transport policy expert Gerard Tertoolen. Wie al fietst – Anyone who already cycles, zal het geweldig vinden – will find it fantastic, de anderen zullen de schouders ophalen – the others will shrug their shoulders en lekker met de auto blijven rijden – and carry on happily driving their cars.
He went on to point out the countless actions over the years to get Flemish people on bicycles – with catchy names like Bike to Work, Met belgerinkel naar de winkel – To the shops with ringing bells, Fietsen naar Kyoto – Cycle to Kyoto.
Maar de realiteit blijft ontnuchterend – But the reality is sobering: zeven op de tien verplaatsingen in Vlaanderen – seven out of 10 journeys in Flanders gebeuren met de auto – are done using the car.
The Flemish cycling lobby group Fietsersbond is firmly behind the idea, however. Hoe meer mensen fietsen – The more people who cycle, hoe aangenamer en veiliger de leefomgeving wordt – the more pleasant and safe our surroundings are, a spokesperson said.
The campaign gets its message across more directly. Alle remmen los! – Let off the brakes!
Photo courtesy Woensdag Fietsdag
