During the European Mobility Week, two Belgian ECF members, Fietsersbond and Gracq, invited the new Brussels government for a bike ride around town. The organisations pointed out to the different Ministers that in each work area, important decisions can be made to stimulate cycling in the Brussels Region. Cycling plays a role in Tourism, Employment, Environment, Mobility & Infrastructure, Road Safety, Sports, and last but not least Finances.

Minister of Finances Vanhengel was particularly enthusiast about his e-bike experience and the potential for e-bikes in Brussels. Minister of Mobility and Public Works Pascal Smet wants to negotiate e-bikes in the Villo system and invest in more separated bike lanes. The successful activity also received lot of press attention; all of the Ministers and the member organisations were interviewed.

The targets for the Brussels Region are quite ambitious: bring the cycling modal share to 20% by 2018.

Brussels Region is a member of our Cities for Cyclists network, and we will surely hear more from them and learn from their experience to increase cycling from 4% to 20% in the next four years.