Frequently asked questions
Cycle highways in general
What is a cycle highway (or bike freeway or fast cycling route)?
A cycle highway, bike freeway or fast cycling route are all words for the same kinds of routes.
Cycle highways are often built along railways, waterways or highways. They are high-quality cycling routes, simple and straightforward, for inter-city cycling trips. A backbone to which other cycle connections connect. Together they form a network that covers the whole of Flanders and the Brussels region.
The trajectory of a cycle highway has been carefully thought out and the infrastructure is designed or adapted in such a way to enable fast and efficient cycling over longer distances.
- as few stops as possible
- at intersections: priority for cyclists where possible
- wide paths, to facilitate overtaking and sociable cycling
- comfortable, smoothly curved surface
- rectilinear design
A cycle highway comes in many different guises: cycle street, cycle path, towpath, separate cycle lane, car-free paths, residential areas, ... A great many different types of infrastructure that together form the cycle highway.
The cycle highway does not currently have its own legal status. The type of infrastructure over which a cycle highway runs determines the legal status and the traffic design. Via installed signage from the highway code, you know what status a section of cycle highway has, and you know what you can (and cannot) do on that section of the route.
Are all cycle highways ready to use? No. Planning, construction and improvement are still ongoing. Do you want to know how your cycle highway is progressing and what projects are in the pipeline? Find your cycle highway here. Or plan a route. And you're off!
How do you recognise a cycle highway?
A cycle highway comes in many different guises: cycle street, cycle path, towpath, car-free roads, separate cycle lane, ... A great many different types of infrastructure that together form the cycle highway.
To make it easy for you to find the way to your destination, we have already placed signposts along and on a number of cycle highways. This signposting consists of signs and markings on the ground. All you have to do is follow the indications on the cycle highway. In many places you will also find overview maps, which give you an insight into the trajectory of the entire route. The logo of the cycle highways, the blue triangle with a white F, is always included in all these elements.
Not all cycle highways are equipped with cycle highway signage yet. Little by little, additional routes are being provided with the necessary signage.
The cycle highway logo is a registered trademark and is an initiative of the five Flemish Provinces. Are you a building developer who would like to get started with cycle highway signage? Then be sure to take a look at our partner information page.
Where can I already enjoy a good quality cycle path?
Together, Flanders and the Brussels Region have more than 100 cycle highways, representing a network of more than 2,700 kilometres. Not all routes have been completed yet. Some have been partially completed, while some do not yet offer the desired cycle highway quality along the entire route but are usable. To date (September 2021) XX% or xx kilometres of the total desired network has already been completed.
Do you want to know where you can already cycle? Or do you want information about the quality of a route? Find your route on our website and consult the map. The map shows you both the planned stretches (not ready) and the usable stretches. You can consult a quality assessment of those usable stretches via the 'quality indication' buttons. High-quality routes meet the desired cycle highway quality norms.
Also take a look at 'projects' if you want to know which improvements have been planned for your route.
Where can I find the status of a particular cycle highway?
Via the overview map:
- Find the cycle highway about which you want more information via the overview map or the complete list of all cycle highways.
- Read the general information. Or read information about the projects. You can find these by going to the projects under the map, or by clicking on an orange project icon (tear shape) on the map. There you will find extensive project information.
Via projects:
- Go to the project overview.
- Use the filter buttons to find the information you want. Search by municipality name, name of the cycle highway or via a free search word.
Is the trajectory of planned routes on the map final?
No. There is still a lot of planning and work being done on the cycle highways. For sections of cycle highway that have not yet been built, the lines shown on the maps on this website may still change.
As soon as a cycle highway partner starts a project, a route study is first carried out: together with all interested partners, an investigation is conducted to determine the ideal route for the part that is to be built.
- Where will the route cross the railway?
- Does the cycling infrastructure run on this side or the other side of the canal or railway?
- Should we provide a one-way cycle path on either side of a street, or will it be a two-way cycle path and if so, on which side of the road?
Connections to other cycling infrastructure, technical impact (for example, is a tunnel feasible?), impact on living environment and nature, etc., are taken into account when making this decision.
As soon as the route study has been completed and there is a clear idea about the exact route of the new section of bicycle highway that is to be built, the chosen route will be published on this website.
Routeplanner en routeplanning
Maintenance, problems on a route
Who can I contact if there are problems on my route (contact point, complaint)?
In Flanders:
You can go to Meldpunt Wegen to report issues with roads and cycle paths in Flanders.
- To the Meldpunt Wegen website (opens in a new window)
- You can also submit a report by phone: call 1700 free of charge, every work day from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
In the Brussels Region:
Via Fix My Street you can report problems online concerning the territory of the Brussels Region.
- to the Fix My Street website (opens in a new window)
What kinds of issues can you report here?
- cycling infrastructure and pedestrian infrastructure (crosswalks, cycle paths, tunnels, bridges, ...)
- traffic signs, markings, signalling
- public lighting
- traffic lights
- street furniture (poles, benches, trash cans, publicity signs, ...)
- embankments: maintenance, planting
- drainage
- road works (site signalling, safety, traffic nuisance due to road works, communication, comment after completion, ...)
- rat-run traffic
- noise nuisance, vibration nuisance, odour nuisance and vermin
- litter or illegal dumping, cleanliness, maintenance, dead animal, ...
- insufficient gritting or clear-up
- road infrastructure design and layout
How do I report?
- Collect data so that you can clarify where the problem is: street name or road number, house number, number of pole, ... or indicate the location on the map on the website.
- If possible, take pictures of the problem/place and attach them.
- Submit the form. You will receive a message as soon as your report has been registered.
- The report is automatically sent to the correct road authority. They will process your report further.
Cijfers en statistieken
Waar kan ik kaartmateriaal vinden (geoloket, GIS, shapefile, ...) ? (studiebureaus, partners)
Fietssnelwegennetwerk (5 provincies)
De ligging van de fietssnelwegen (zowel geplande als gerealiseerde routes) met hun benaming is beschikbaar via wfs en wms.
Copyright hiervan is in handen van de provincies Antwerpen, Limburg, Oost-Vlaanderen, Vlaams-Brabant en West-Vlaanderen.
Geoloketten (per provincie)
Op fietssnelwegen.be vind je het fietssnelwegennetwerk. Je vindt hier echter geen gegevens van de andere netwerken. Die netwerken en tal van andere gegevens vind je wel in de geoloketten van de verschillende provincies terug.