Flanders will paint rainbow crossings in all municipalities on request

The Flemish Road Safety Agency (AWV) is ready to install and maintain a rainbow pedestrian crossing in every city in Flanders, if requested by the local authorities. The AWV will also be responsible for the costs of installing and maintaining the crossings, Flemish Mobility Minister Lydia Peeters announced on Sunday.

Rainbow pedestrian crossings, in support of the LGBTQI+ community, are increasingly appearing on the streets. They come in different forms: coloured stripes between the white stripes, white stripes on top of the coloured stripes, or a coloured strip parallel to the traditional, white-striped crossing.

"All of them have one thing in common: the message that everyone is welcome, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity," says Flemish MP Brecht Warnez. "They encourage citizens to be themselves."