Cycling Research Board Annual Meeting

For more than 25 years, the Flemish Functional Cycling Network has been the backbone of cycling policy in Flanders—a network that continues to evolve as cycling habits and mobility needs rapidly change. Commissioned by the Flemish Government, MINT is now examining both the history and the future of this supra-local network. One thing quickly became clear: the existing selection methodology that determines which routes belong in the network is outdated and overly discretionary.

Cycling volumes in Flanders have grown dramatically, and new vehicle types—most notably e bikes and speed pedelecs—have fundamentally reshaped mobility patterns. Our task is to develop an objective, transparent framework to guide future decisions on adapting or expanding the network.
We do this collaboratively. Throughout the study, we gathered insights from local and regional authorities, advocacy groups, research centres, and of course cyclists themselves. We explored a wide range of quantitative and qualitative parameters that could structure the new decision-making framework. But many choices proved far less straightforward than they first appeared.

• What should drive the mesh size of a functional network: cycling potential, or a desire for uniformity across Flanders?
• Does a hierarchical categorisation of the network add clarity—or complexity?
• Should multiple parallel routes be allowed for the same corridor?
• How should the cycling network relate to road and public transport networks?
• What detour factors are acceptable?
• How do we address dense urban environments with ring structures?
• And how do we tackle the biggest structural challenge: routes that are crucial on paper but difficult to realise in practice?

With this workshop, we invite cycling experts and practitioners to reflect with us. What defines a high-performing, inclusive cycling network—and how can governments make well-founded choices when shaping or reshaping it?