Brussels 30kph zone: it can be done if you want it enough!

[BalkanExpress]

In January the entire Brussels region became a 30kph (20ish mph) zone unless otherwise stated. Yes 1.2 million people, a capital city, all changed overnight.

The real impact of the change will take some time to be felt. As with much in Belgium, enforcement is a bit lax, but speeds appear to be down and the city has not ground to a halt.

There have been some vocal opposition, but few active demonstrations, the last drew around 50 drivers. My favourite complaint so far, the taxi drivers who said, they already had to break the law to be profitable and now they will just get fined more often.

By way of flanking measures, a lot of new pop-up cycle lanes as well as some serious cycling infrastructure. The latter runs along side major roads and are intended to facilitate longer distance comuting, inclding e-bikes of which there are an ever incresing number.

Here are a few photos, including the motorway sliproad turned into a cycle path

and yes, this is a two way lit cyclepath not a road

ok

 

[Cycleops]

Who wanted it?

 

[Drago]

Hopefully the new rules will be respected far more dilligently than they would here.

 

[BalkanExpress]

Who wanted it?

The voters of Brussels region who voted in the parties, who had this as a policy.

This is simplified, as the coalition building is a bit complex, perhaps better to say the majority were not actively against it

 

[BalkanExpress]

Hopefully the new rules will be respected far more dilligently than they would here.

Not much hope as enforcement is infamously patchy. However, by my non-scientific observation speeds have dropped and so spreading is now from a lower base point, this includes most main roads as well where limits have come down from 70kph to 50kph. In addition, there has been a big increase in traffic calming infra structure, speed bumps, chicanes and of course Riad narrowing to create space for cycle lanes, all of which reduce casual speeding, but ultimately speeders gonna speed

 

[Drago]

Governments just need to geow some cojones and force people out of cars entirely. The public know that the days of unfettered private car use with no consequence is on the horizon, but decline to acknowledge it - better to start to embrace it now, as the longer that day is held off the more painful it will be for everyone when it arrives.

 

[sheddy]

Thanks for posting.
Now looking for a 20mph letter template to email councillors.

 

[DRM]

Not much hope as enforcement is infamously patchy. However, by my non-scientific observation speeds have dropped and so spreading is now from a lower base point, this includes most main roads as well where limits have come down from 70kph to 50kph. In addition, there has been a big increase in traffic calming infra structure, speed bumps, chicanes and of course Riad narrowing to create space for cycle lanes, all of which reduce casual speeding, but ultimately speeders gonna speed

It’s a 20 mph speed limit on the majority of housing estate roads under Leeds City Councils care, the trouble is with no enforcement whatsoever, all you get is tailgating, speeding stupid overtakes, just general crap driving, it’s proved to be a complete chocolate teapot as nobody takes a blind bit of notice of the 20mph limit, the average speed being nearer 40 mph

 

[mjr]

It’s a 20 mph speed limit on the majority of housing estate roads under Leeds City Councils care, the trouble is with no enforcement whatsoever, all you get is tailgating, speeding stupid overtakes, just general crap driving, it’s proved to be a complete chocolate teapot as nobody takes a blind bit of notice of the 20mph limit, the average speed being nearer 40 mph

Someone should pressure the police to collect those idiot taxes. Can you ask questions as any police commissioner hustings before May's elections?

 

[BalkanExpress]

And while not about the 30kph zone and interesting read on the efforts during 2020 to install more cycle lanes in Brussels. Headline figures is 64% more cycle journeys

https://ecf.com/news-and-events/new...emic-transform-brussels’-mobility-system-good

 

[snorri]

In January the entire Brussels region became a 30kph (20ish mph) zone unless otherwise stated. Yes 1.2 million people, a capital city, all changed overnight ok

Excellent, I hope it spreads around Europe even faster than Covid.

 

[BalkanExpress]

A new section of dedicated bike lane has been added along side the equivalent of London's West Way. A lane of the main road has been taken to create space for the path, and a very cool underpass built with Scandi style wood cladding

 

[ianrauk]

A new section of dedicated bike lane has been added along side the equivalent of London's West Way. A lane of the main road has been taken to create space for the path, and a very cool underpass built with Scandi style wood cladding

View attachment 587168
View attachment 587169

they do it all so much better.

 

[BalkanExpress]

they do it all so much better.

Not every single path, but, yes, the main long distance commuting paths are being built to this standard. and existing paths upgraded.

The emphasis here is on commuting: the paths are going down beside motorways, trunk roads and railway lines and are intended to make cycling a viable option for people commuting in from 10-20 miles away (or more). The rapid increase in the number of e-bikes makes this a viable option for many more people than it was before in terms of their own fitness and these commuter routes make it simpler and, in people's minds, safer.

 

[T4tomo]

That infrastructure looks excellent and well thought out as to where it goes.

My experience of Belgian drivers, when I've visited for work, was they all did about 90mph regardless of speed limits so good luck with the 30kph zone...