In the city, cycling often gets you to your destination much faster than driving. Brussels and the surrounding areas offer bicycle parking everywhere, various bike rental schemes and an extensive network of cycling paths and highways.

Cycling to work or school

Five to seven km is a pleasant cycling distance to most people. If you live farther away from your work, an electric bicycle can be a solution. This makes distances up to twenty or thirty km doable without too much effort and helps keep you in shape too.

Combining public transport & cycling

You can also easily combine cycling with public transport. Bring along a folding bike on the train or use the shared bicycles provided for hire near the train stations. That way you can both exercise and read, work, etc.

Shared bike schemes

Blue bike: All major Belgian train stations offer bicycles for hire (the so-called blue bikes) allowing you to easily reach your final destination on leaving the train (and to return). For more information on rates and to find out at which train stations these bicycles are available please go here.
Villo!: The Brussels Capital Region uses the Villo! bike sharing scheme. Our capital features 360 Villo! stations altogether, with a station every 450 m or so. You can use and return these bicycles (with a lock!) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For more information on rates and plans please go here. For even more convenience, put a Villo plan on your MOBIB card.

Bicycle rental

Bicycle rental in Brussels: www.provelo.org
Bicycle rental in Hoeilaart: You can rent mountain bikes and race bikes Filip Sport, Kasteelstraat 45, 1560 Hoeilaart (02 657 37 33).

Bicycle highways

Bicycle highways take you to your destination quickly and safely over longer distances. These fast bicycle paths help relieve the traffic congestion in and around Brussels and are a healthy commuting alternative. For an overview of these bicycle highways please go here. Attention: Some paths have not yet been completed, but the map also shows future paths. Click on the paths for more information.

Cycle allowance

Employers may choose to pay employees who commute (partially) by bicycle an allowance based on the distance covered. The employer decides whether to provide a cycling allowance or not. This is a priviledge, not a right, unless it has been specified in the collective labour agreement for your sector.

Getting your bicycle engraved and what to do in case of theft

In Belgium many people have their bicycle engraved or labelled as theft prevention. The national registration number is engraved on the bicycle frame. All citizens with Belgian identity or residence documents receive a registration number. The national registration number functions as proof of ownership, allowing the police to easily identify and contact a stolen bicycle’s lawful owner. Moreover, this label acts as a deterrent to potential thieves, as it makes the stolen bicycle much harder to sell. 

Hoeilaart regularly organises bicycle engraving opportunities. For more information, contact the  local police department. Contact person: Marc Debuyst - 02 769 69 30.