First-ever ‘Bikes in Brussels Awards’ celebrate seven trailblazing cycling projects in and around the capital
The launch of the inaugural Bikes in Brussels Awards shines a spotlight on seven outstanding cycling infrastructure projects that are transforming mobility in and around the Brussels-Capital Region. With a total of €1 million in funding granted to the laureates, this initiative supports their continued efforts to build a healthier, more user-friendly urban environment through innovative cycling solutions.
An initiative of the Bikes in Brussels Fund, managed by the King Baudouin Foundation, the awards were created to recognise exceptional infrastructure completed in 2023 or 2024. From neighborhood-level upgrades to high-impact connections across the Ring and along the city’s perimeter, each selected project makes a tangible contribution to safe, smooth, and sustainable cycling.
Four projects in three Brussels municipalities receive a combined €500,000 in funding:
- Forest (€100,000): Vélo PLUS links rue du Delta, avenue des Tropiques, and rue du Patinage with segregated bike lanes, a dedicated cycle street, ochre-coloured markings, and clear signage—open to the public since late 2024.
- Uccle (€150,000): Awarded for two completed projects—a mixed pedestrian-cyclist path between chaussée de Saint-Job and rue Jean Benaets, and a greener, safer cycle lane along rue Egide Van Ophem.
- Brussels Mobility (€250,000): Recognised for several upgraded sections of the cycle highway along the Small Ring, including boulevard du Jardin Botanique, boulevard Baudouin, boulevard d’Anvers, boulevard du Midi, and boulevard de Waterloo. Enhancements include ochre-coloured asphalt, wider sidewalks, urban greenery, modern lighting, and new signage.
In the periphery, ‘De Werkvennootschap’ is awarded €500,000 for three key projects that reinforce links between the outer municipalities and Brussels:
- Machelen: A 710-meter pedestrian-cyclist bridge across avenue Léopold III, open since late 2024, closes a critical gap in the regional cycling network.
- Overijse: Since late 2023, a new tunnel under drève de Bonne Odeur allows cyclists to cross the Ring without dismounting—improving safety and comfort while connecting multiple cycle highways.
- Hoeilaart: The F205 cycle route, operational since early 2024 between Groenendaal station and La Hulpe, boosts accessibility and strengthens a vital cycling axis into the capital.
The award-winning projects will use their financial boost to upgrade infrastructure and roll out new cycling initiatives—each one helping to build a more livable, accessible, and sustainable Brussels.
A new call for project proposals will launch this autumn, continuing the Fund’s mission to accelerate high-quality cycling development in the region.
About the Bikes in Brussels Fund
Founded in 2018, the Bikes in Brussels Fund encourages residents, commuters, and visitors to embrace cycling as a primary mode of transport. The Fund has supported 117 projects, from secure bike parking and cycling path redevelopment to public repair stations—all advancing safe, smooth, and inclusive cycling for all.
Discover more about the projects and explore the impact in images and figures: https://fundsbikesinbrussels.be