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🇧🇪 Belgium /Culture & Society

Wijnegem and Mortsel target wrong-way cyclists as school year begins: “A few seconds saved are not worth the danger”

From VRT NWS · () Dutch

Translated from Dutch and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Wijnegem and Mortsel launched a campaign targeting cyclists who ride against traffic on one-way cycle paths as the school year begins.
  • The municipalities said the practice creates risks, particularly at busy locations and during school commuting hours.
  • Police zone Minos will conduct additional checks in Mortsel in the coming weeks.

With the new school year bringing more bicycles onto local roads, Wijnegem and Mortsel are turning their attention to “ghost cyclists”, the term they use for people riding the wrong way on one-way cycle paths.

A few seconds saved are never worth the possible dangers.

· Leen WoutersWijnegem’s mobility alderman explaining the campaign’s message.

The two municipalities have launched a campaign to remind cyclists to follow the designated direction. Its central message is blunt: saving a few seconds by taking a shorter route never outweighs the possible dangers.

Wijnegem is focusing on locations where confusion regularly occurs, including the area around the new cycle bridge, the Turnhoutsebaan, Stokerijstraat and Wommelgemsesteenweg. Mayor Tom Tachelet said people of different ages sometimes ride against traffic, but young cyclists often do so before or after school because they want to get home as quickly as possible.

We notice that riding against the direction strongly concerns people in Wijnegem.

· Leen WoutersShe described the local concern behind the campaign.

Mortsel, which belongs to police zone Minos, will also give the issue extra attention. Mayor Michiel Hubeau said the city can be proud of its cycling culture, but safety comes under pressure when cyclists ignore traffic rules. Police will carry out additional checks in the coming weeks, while both municipalities continue their awareness campaign.

Mortsel is a real cycling city, and we can be proud of that.

· Michiel HubeauThe Mortsel mayor welcomed the city’s cycling culture while warning about safety risks.
About this summary

Originally published by VRT NWS in Dutch. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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