Obstacles placed in Bois de la Cambre to slow cyclists down

The City of Brussels has placed 40 boulders along the roads running through the Bois de la Cambre, intended to encourage cyclists to slow down and avoid collisions with pedestrians.

Boulders were placed on Avenue de Saint-Job, Avenue du Brésil and Avenue de la Sapinière, Bruzz reports, with built-in reflectors to ensure visibility at night.

The Bois de la Cambre is a popular place for both pedestrians and cyclists, especially as the weather grows warmer, but reports of cyclists racing dangerously along its roads prompted the city to implement the boulders as a safety measure.

Alderman for public spaces Anaïs Maes (Vooruit) said the traffic-calming devices were not intended to discourage cyclists from using the park.

"On the contrary - cyclists, come to Bois de la Cambre, but adjust your speed," she said. "What we want is to reduce the speed of certain groups of cycling tourists who use the park as a training track."

A recent accident involving a three-year-old who was struck by a group of speeding cyclists was what sped up the introduction of safety measures.

“The problem is not so much in busy areas, but in places where there are fewer people,” Maes said.

“Cycling tourists sometimes speed through, forgetting that there may be children, pets or balls on their way.”

The 40 new boulders come in addition to existing ones and concrete barriers. The boulders can be removed for events, such as the upcoming 20km Brussels running race.

Another related measure is new signage indicating that Bois de la Cambre is a pedestrian zone, which means that cyclists should be riding at a walking pace, though this is not strictly enforced.

“There is enough space in Bois de la Cambre for joggers, walkers and cyclists to enjoy the public space in harmony,” said Maes. “Cyclists are simply not allowed to go too fast.”

The city said it might modify the layout again if the new barriers do not slow down speeders.