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In 2023, 32 percent of Belgian employees used the bicycle for commuting, for the entire journey or part of it. This was evident from a BeMob survey by the FPS Mobility on Monday, which was communicated by Federal Minister of Mobility Georges Gilkinet (Ecolo).
This is an increase compared to 2019, when 29 percent of Belgian employees (partly) went to work by bicycle.
“The systematization and increase of the kilometer allowance for daily cyclists, in combination with the abolition of the ceiling for the employer contribution, are clearly an effective incentive for the use of the bicycle to get to work,” Gilkinet notes.
Other BeMob surveys show that more than half of adult Belgians appear to be cyclists (57 percent). However, there are major differences between the different regions. In Flanders this concerns 75 percent of the inhabitants, compared to 37 percent in Brussels and 31 percent in Wallonia. Flemish and Brussels residents are more likely to use the bicycle for useful journeys, such as commuting to work, to do shopping or to pursue a hobby, while Walloons use the bicycle more for recreation.
In addition, 30 percent of cyclists plan to cycle more and 17 percent of non-cyclists say they will start doing so.
Electric bicycles are also gaining popularity: the number of users has increased from 24 to 28 percent in one year.