90-Year-Old Cyclist Dies After Accident on Belgian Cycling Highway

A 90-year-old cyclist from Houthulst has died from injuries sustained in a collision on the Vrijbosroute, a cycling highway near Ypres. The man had been transported to the hospital by medical helicopter after the incident, which occurred in Pilkem. He suffered severe fractures.

The accident happened on the Bikschotestraat in Pilkem, a hamlet of Ypres. Emergency services provided care to the cyclist at the scene before his aerial evacuation. Police are investigating the circumstances of the crash. The driver of the van involved in the collision was reportedly shaken and received support from bystanders and family.

This incident has heightened existing safety concerns among local residents regarding intersections along the Vrijbosroute. They argue that faster bicycles and insufficient respect for traffic rules contribute to the danger. Although the cycling highway, connecting Ypres and Kortemark, has been recently renovated with features like inverted triangles, red mile markers, and concrete tiles to warn cyclists of intersections, residents believe these measures are inadequate.