The EUCG is always looking for ways to improve its service to its members. If you have an idea that you think could help encourage Institution staff to cycle – or improve the lot of those who already do – please let any member of the committee know or send a message to the helpdesk @ eucg.eu .
Out and about on the road
City cycling is always more enjoyable, and safer, when there is less motor traffic and especially where there is not fast traffic. Cycle commuters almost always find ways to get to work that avoid the fastest or the most congested roads, even though such routes may take longer.
A circular blue panel with a white bicycle logo indicates that you must use the cycle path if the sign is visible in your direction — some cycle paths are two-way. Be careful on these cycle paths. You will be sharing them with pedestrians, dogs, and, in some cases, cars driving across them for access. Accident statistics show that cycle paths shared in this way with other road users are actually slightly less safe for the cyclist than a normal road, but almost all the cycle path accidents happen at junctions. The most dangerous part of a cycle path is where it crosses a road because motorists don’t always realise that a bike may suddenly appear in front of them. Many cyclists, however, assume that the cycle path gives them the right of way across the intersection – but it doesn’t.
Bike lanes painted in the road come in two flavours. You are obliged to use the ones marked with broken white lines, unless something either prevents you from using it or would make it dangerous to use. The Rond Point Schuman has a cycle path of this kind that is almost always impossible to use.
The other kind of cycle path on the road is shown by a white cycle logo on a red strip of tarmac along the side of the road. This has no legal meaning at all, either for the cyclist or the motorist. It is merely a warning to motorists to watch out for cyclists – something that they should do anyway.
For more information, see: http://www.velo.irisnet.be/en/cycleways_en.htm.
Riding in Brussels
Riding in Brussels is not greatly different from riding in any other city. If a cyclist is injured in an accident, it is almost always because a car or other motorised vehicle was involved. Motorists look ahead and to the side for other vehicles. They don’t expect to see a fast-moving bicycle doing something odd. You are safest when you use your bicycle as you would any other vehicle, and ride where drivers expect to see traffic.
Staying safe is largely a matter of
- knowing the traffic code, especially the meaning of signs and markings specifically for cyclists, and obeying the rules (unless in some unusual circumstance they force you into danger!).
- observing road conditions, including wet leaves, tram lines, and modifying your behaviour to take them into account ;
- paying close and careful attention to the behaviour of other road users, including people inside parked cars and people walking their dogs ;
- making sure that you can see – and be seen by others. This particularly applies at night, when you must have your front and tail lights on, and should wear bright (even better: reflecting) clothes;
- staying vigilant at all times but especially as you approach intersections.
Most accidents in which the cyclist is seriously hurt or killed involve the cyclist taking a big risk (often breaking the law at the same time). Just a few “high-risk” cyclists make it look like cycling is far more dangerous than it is and create a negative image. The single most dangerous thing you can do, from the point of view of the accident statistics, is to ride through an intersection against a red light or stop sign. Somehow that makes sense….
Another potentially dangerous – but easily avoidable – situation is finding yourself between a big vehicle (truck) and the kerb: You are very likely to be in the driver’s dead angle, and you wouldn’t wish to find your traject been crossed by his at the same moment… Simply remember the old African saying: “Never get between the hyppo and the water”. So: stay behind!
SUL/BEV
SUL (Sens Unique Limité) or BEV (Beperkt Eenrichtings Verkeer) are one-way streets open for cyclists in both directions. They are signposted with a board displaying a bicycle with two arrows going up and down under the blue square “one way” plate on one side, and an “excepté/uitgezonderd [cyclists]” board under the red “no entrance” sign on the other.
They make life considerably easier for cyclists who can avoid unproductive detours.
For more information see: http://www.velo.irisnet.be/download/sul_fr.pdf (in French) or http://www.velo.irisnet.be/download/bev_nl.pdf (in Dutch)
Theft
Thieves steal bicycles in every city in the world. But this does not mean that your bike is doomed to be stolen – far from it. You can do a lot to make it unlikely that your bike will go missing;
- Always lock your bike if you’re going to leave it, even for a moment.
- Lock it in a well-lit area where lots of people can see it.
- Lock both wheels to the frame and the frame to something solid and immovable.
- Do not rely on cable locks, but use a U-lock or a heavy padlock and chain.
- (Cyclo-darwinism: Park your bike next to an expensive looking one with a weaker lock than yours.)
If your bike does get stolen please report it to the police. This is the only way to ensure that if you happen to see it again, you can request to have it recovered and it also important for the police to have a record. It also helps having “it” in the statistics – if there are no (or hardly any) statistics on stolen bikes, the police will argue that bike theft is not a big issue, thus not a priority, and won’t do anything on prevention…
If you have a “numéro national”, you can report it on-line via Police-on-web (policeonweb.be).
If the bike was stolen on Commission premises please inform the security guards and report it to the Security Directorate.
For some more thoughts on bicycle theft click here.
Other cycling groups in Belgium and Luxembourg
The EUCG strongly encourages its members to join one of the Belgian or Luxembourg cycling associations. The EUCG has excellent relations with them, but focuses its efforts on improving conditions for the staff of the EU Institutions, and therefore works mainly with the administrations of the Institutions. By contrast, the national associations work to improve conditions throughout the city or country, helping its members to achieve a safer and more enjoyable experience.
The two main cyclists’ associations that campaign for cyclists in Belgium are the French-speaking GRACQ and the Dutch-speaking Fietsersbond. In Luxembourg, it is the Letzebuerger Velos-Initiativ.
