Brussels is gearing up to introduce 2,500 new secure bicycle parking spaces distributed across 150 recently established bike parking facilities. This initiative, a key component of Regional

Mobility Minister Elke Van den Brandt's 'Bicycle Master Plan,' addresses the escalating need for reliable and secure bicycle parking options in the city.

Distinguishing themselves from the well-known Brussels 'bike boxes,' these new secure bicycle parking facilities will be situated within car parks managed by the private operator BePark. In a strategic partnership with the public parking agency parking.brussels, the goal is to inaugurate one new bicycle parking facility each week.

According to Brussels Mobility, the capital's transportation organization, the number of cyclists in the Brussels-Capital Region is projected to rise by 7% this year. However, there was a remarkable 40% surge in the previous year.

Despite expressing satisfaction with the increase in cycling, Minister Elke Van den Brandt acknowledged earlier this month that the work remains incomplete in terms of establishing a secure cycling infrastructure.

The recently announced secure bike parking spaces form part of Van den Brandt's 'Bicycle Master Plan' and align with the Brussels-Capital Region's management agreement, which advocates for the creation of 21,250 new bike parking spaces to meet the escalating demand. Minister Van den Brandt stated on Monday, "In Brussels, many people would like to cycle but refrain due to the lack of a safe place to park their bike or the fear of theft." Presently, 11,000 cyclists in Brussels are still awaiting a parking space.

To access these secure spaces, users will need a subscription, priced at 15 euros annually for classic bikes and 30 euros for cargo bikes. A smartphone application will facilitate the opening and closing of the bike park.

In a bid to encourage bicycle use within the Brussels expat community, Brussels Mobility initiated a campaign in June 2023. Eight ambassadors from Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Botswana, New Zealand, Bosnia, and Slovenia are actively participating in this campaign. With 220,000 individuals, constituting 20% of the Brussels population, the Brussels-Capital Region boasts the largest expat community in Europe. Photo by Arnold Reinhold, Wikimedia commons.