Belgium Invests €450 Million In Bicycle ‘Highways’

During the pandemic, Belgium saw a rapid and significant rise in the number of its citizens riding bicycles and e-bikes. Much of this riding took place on a series of interconnected bike paths referred to as “bike highways” that allow riders to avoid roads. Upon seeing the rise in ridership, the Belgian government took action in a three pronged approach to support those riders. They took action to increase cyclists’ safety, improve physical infrastructure and make new policy to support cycling. It’s an effort that we’re seeing across Europe.

Since 2020, the Belgian government has invested a massive €1.4 billion in cycling infrastructure. Compare that with the nearly €680 million—still, a remarkable sum by U.S. standards—the legislature apportioned in the five-year period from 2014-2019.

Of that funding, €450 million was devoted to the bicycle highways. The money was used to expand the network as well as build new tunnel and bridge crossings.

According to an analysis released by Belgium’s Green Party, only 33 percent of the €1.4 billion has been spent so far; they expressed concern that at the current rate of spending, 12 years will pass before all of the allocated funds are used.

E-bikes are rising in popularity in Belgium, much as they are in the rest of the world. In research published by FPS Mobility, roughly one in four Belgians rode an e-bike at least once in 2023. In 2022 some 22 percent of Belgians rode an e-bike, while in 2023 that number rose 4 percent to 28 percent.

More than half of all Belgians—57 percent—ride bikes regularly. Cycling is most popular in Flanders, where a whopping 76 percent of the population rides. Among Belgians as a whole, 13 percent of riders who don’t own an e-bike are considering purchasing one. In Flanders 18 percent of the population gets around by e-bike. That’s 18 percent of the total population, not 18 percent of cyclists.