10 counting stations to measure bike use in Brussels

Ten bike-counting machines will be operational on some of Brussels' busiest cycle paths by next spring to provide a better picture of the number of cyclists in the city.

The first automatic terminal, on the city-bound bike path of the Rue de la Loi near Maelbeek, was put to the test in September and counts an average of 1,500 cyclists per day.

A further nine counting stations have now been confirmed at strategic locations on both sides of the canal, including the Avenue de la Couronne, Boulevard Général Jacques and along the canal itself.

The machine automatically counts and records the number of bicycles passing by. A real-time display shows the number of cyclists per day and so far this year, as well as other useful info such as the time and temperature.

The initiative is part of the Bike for Brussels campaign, which aims to make the city more attractive for cyclists. All the data collected by the 10 counting stations will be publicly available via the Brussels region's Open Data platform.

Antwerp, Ghent and Mechelen already use similar systems. Brussels mobility minister Pascal Smet said: "Examples in various other European and Belgian cities demonstrate the usefulness of bike meters in terms of awareness and motivation. They reinforce the sense of community among cyclists and show motorists that many people have made a conscious choice to avoid the daily traffic jams."