When I first moved to Brussels three years ago, I used to commute by bike across the Place Flagey to Avenue Louise.  Every morning I would pass a woman heading in the other direction, wobbly and uncertain on her brand new mountain bike, helmet firmly fastened, reflective vests and lights all over, a look of terror in her eyes as if she was being forced to swing dance in a mine field.  I realized in watching her, just how intimidating biking in Brussels can be.  But trust me, it can be done!  With some simple guidelines, biking in Brussels can become such a safe, efficient, and pleasant way to get around the city that you’ll never move any other way – and that’s to say nothing of all the pollution you’ll save by doing it.

Rules of the Road
For starters, you need to know some basic rules.  Bikes are allowed in both directions on almost any street in Brussels.  For one way streets, this means that as long as the sign says “Excepte / Uitgezonderd” with a  picture of a bike, you can ride in the opposite direction.  Studies have shown that there is no increase in accidents on these kinds of roads.
Otherwise, cyclists are obliged to follow the same rules as cars: giving priority to pedestrians and vehicles entering from the right, stopping at red lights, and obeying all traffic signs.  Bikes cannot ride on the sidewalks.  Where there is a designated bike path, bikes are obliged to use it – though if it is shared with pedestrians, pedestrians have the right of way.

Once you start biking, you’ll notice that some streets are more bike-friendly than others, certain roads follow ridges rather than climbing hills, and there are some intersections to be avoided at all costs.  The best way to find your own cycling routes is to take a look at the Brussels cycling map, available for sale in a waterproof hardcopy or for free download (see Useful information section below).  The map shows the contours of hills and also codes the streets of the city in terms of their openness for bikes.  It can seem a little complicated at first, but once you learn how to read it, you won’t leave home without it.

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