Cycling still on the rise in Brussels despite bad weather

The number of cyclists commuting during the morning rush hour in Brussels increased by 4% last year compared to 2023 in spite of record rainfall, according to the latest annual report from the Brussels Bicycle Observatory.

The increase in the number of cyclists observed between the morning rush hour - between 8.00 and 9.00 - is smaller than a year earlier (13.9%), which the observatory attributes to the unusual rain, but it continues an upward trend.

Since 2010, the number of cyclists per year has increased by 12% on average.

Almost half (48%) of the cyclists counted in the study rode an electric bike in 2024, compared to 41% in 2023. The use of electric bikes increased not only for commuters but also leisure cycling, with 40% of bicycles observed on Sunday being electric.

Cycling association Pro Velo said that the upward trend was due to the fact that e-bikes enable longer or physically heavier rides: about eight in 10 cyclists with children rode electric bikes and the average distance covered with an electric bike was higher at 6km than the 5km for traditional bicycles.

Pro Velo has been conducting bicycle counts for the Bicycle Observatory on behalf of Brussels Mobility since 1998, doing manual counts totalling 104 hours that take place four times a year at 26 intersections in the capital.

The association also conduct surveys of cyclists. The latest survey findings include that women make up 40% of Brussels cyclists, the same as in 2023, and that 90% of cyclists hold a university degree.

A vast majority (96%) of respondents cycle three to four times a week and 80% cycle five or more times a week. Figures also indicated that 71% wore helmets and 79% of bikes were secured with a proper lock.

Cycling safety is also improving: 26% of respondents in the 2024 survey said they had been involved in an accident in the past two years, down from 31% in 2023 and 32% in 2022.

These numbers match data collected by police for the first six months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, which saw a decrease of 9% in cycling injuries on the road.