New regulations have been adopted at the federal level to better protect weak users, cyclists and pedestrians. They will come into force on May 31, 2019.

• First measure: the speed limit for scooters is increased from 18 to 25 km/hour, as are mopeds. What is the objective? To give power to these machines to make it easier to climb hills.

•  Then comes the obligation to leave 1.5 m instead of one metre to overtake the bikes, outside the urban area. A good measure in itself but difficult for the police to control, admits Vias, the Belgian institute for road safety.

• The new regulations also aim to introduce a full green light for cyclists, i.e. a green light for bikes at junctions. Benoît Godart of Institut Vias also agrees: "It is not tomorrow that we will have a green light that gives priority to cyclists at every intersection. Priority must be given to places that are very busy for cyclists, such as Louvain-la-Neuve or the inner ring road in Brussels".

• Then, speed pedelec, those bikes whose electric assistance works up to 45km/hour, will be allowed to ride two at the same time, unless it hinders a motorist who would like to overtake for example.

• Fifth measure: children under 10 years of age - previously it was children under 9 years of age - will be able to ride bicycles on the pavement.

• Finally, the last regulation, when pedestrians, wishing to cross the road, see a crosswalk less than 20 meters away, they will have to use it. Until now, the distance was fixed at 30 metres.

source in the evening : put online by the belga agency on 24/05/19 at 6:49 am
picture: vdn