No improvements to road safety after fatal collision between bus and cyclist

Two months after a bicycle courier was killed near Brussels-North station, nothing has changed, with FlixBuses continuing to load and unload passengers dangerously at the same site.

Sultan Zadran died after being hit by a Flixbus coach. Heroes For Zero – a Brussels action group aiming for zero road deaths – has denounced the subsequent lack of improvements to road safety, Bruzz reports.

The traffic situation on Boulevard Roi Albert II remains dangerous, the group said.

“Two months after the death of Sultan Zadran, who was hit by a FlixBus, safety on Boulevard Roi Albert II has not improved even a little,” the group said on Twitter.

“On the contrary, the placement of the bus stop and the irresponsible driving behaviour of Flixbus drivers endanger pedestrians and cyclists on a daily basis.”

Marie Thibaut de Maisières, spokeswoman for mobility minister Elke Van den Brandt (Groen), acknowledged that the situation was "illegal and unacceptable".

“Flixbus and the police have been warned so that this does not happen again,” she said in a response to the tweet.

“Signage will be reinforced to prevent vehicles from parking illegally at the new Flixbus stop, slightly further to the side of the cycle path. We are closely monitoring the new situation.”

State secretary Pascal Smet (One.Brussels), former mobility minister, also reacted.

According to him, an international bus station near the Erasmus Hospital in Anderlecht was planned in 2019, but his successor Van den Brandt withdrew that plan without an alternative.

“I hope there will be a new proposal for an international bus station soon,” Smet said.