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What's new in mobility? At the start of each month, we share the latest news related to mobility.
In the news 📰
VSV research shows that 1 in 3 young people (almost) always listen to music while cycling and 1 in 5 (almost) always use their mobile phones while cycling. In fact, young people do not know that this behaviour makes travelling more unsafe. Likewise, they see many others around them doing this, leading them to adopt this behaviour. 1 in 10 young people in this survey also indicated that they have been involved in a traffic accident that has forced them to go to the doctor or hospital. Source
The BIK for fossil-fuelled company cars will not be increased this year according to the previously known formula. The BIK is calculated based on average Co2 emissions in Belgium. With the (rapid) electrification of the fleet, this would mean a huge cost increase for employees without electric company cars. The BIK will now undergo a similar increase, as in previous years. This adjustment has also raised the maximum exempt bicycle allowance from EUR 2,500 to EUR 3,500. Inflation will also not be passed on to train season tickets paid by the employer. Source
Mobility facts 🧮
The number of company cars in Belgium has declined. In 2023, 14.6 per cent of employees had a company car, compared to 14.8 per cent in 2022. The biggest drop is seen among the -25-year-olds here the percentage drops from 3.3 per cent to 2 per cent. A possible explanation is that companies give a company car only after 1 year of seniority. Source
In 2023, 84.6 per cent of SNCB trains ran on time (or with a maximum 6-minute delay). The number of cancelled trains experienced a record 46,086 trains. Infrabel and SNCB accounted for 19.8 per cent and 36.6 per cent of these delays, respectively. Third parties (track runners, cable thefts, etc.) are responsible for 39.1 per cent of the delays. Source
Did you know❓
Cars are getting wider by the year. This is according to research by Transport and Environment. In 2018, the average width was 177.8 cm, this is now 180.3 cm. Parking spaces must be 2 metres wide according to Flemish guidelines, making parking spaces tighter and tighter for the average car. Source
Wallonia invests 353 euros per inhabitant in public transport (TEC), compared to 207 euros per inhabitant in Flanders (De Lijn). Flanders thus invests 70 per cent less in public transport than Wallonia. In this way, Wallonia wants to increase the number of trips by public transport from 4 per cent to 10 per cent by 2030. Source
Work on the North-South Link in Limburg will begin in 2026. The project should ensure that through traffic will come underground, increasing road safety, traffic flow and traffic liveability in Houthalen-Helchteren. The works should be completed by 2030. Source
American Merdith Glaser is Flanders' first cycling professor. She will conduct research to boost cycling mobility in Flanders. Glaser has 15 years of experience in spatial planning, transport and mobility. She worked in Amsterdam with the first Dutch cycling professor. Source