Cycling Associations
History
In May 1975, the Antwerp-based Groene Fietsers and the Brussels-based Comité d’Action des Transports Urbains organised a demonstration involving thousands of cyclists from all over the country. From this was born the GRACQ/OAF (Groupe de recherche et d’action des cyclistes quotidiens/Onderzoek & Actie van de Fietsers). 1975 saw other associations for utilitarian cycling springing up throughout Europe (perhaps influenced by this pioneering organisation or by two years of reflection following the oil crisis).
The years 1975-1987 started badly with two ministerial circulars banning municipalities from allowing cyclists to ride the wrong way up one-way streets and encouraging road widening by using cycle lanes. In Flanders, the cycling movement was divided into small urban groups who, for example in Antwerp, worked to have road tax for bicycles lifted (FoFo). At the same time, the GRACQ launched the Commissions Consultatives Vélo in Brussels (1976) and Wallonia (1985). These Committees spearheaded the renaissance of urban cycling through organised urban bike rides, demonstrations, and a brochure entitled ‘Cyclists in Traffic’. They also went through the Highway Code with a fine-toothed comb and submitted revision proposals.
On a European level, the GRACQ has participated in all Velo-city conferences since Bremen (1980) and it was also a founder member of the European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF, 1983). These international contacts have allowed it to import good practice, such as on-road training for adults (Switzerland), for children (UK and Luxembourg), and for migrants (Netherlands and France), as well as cycling mass events (Germany and Spain). In Belgium, local groups (such as the Comité des Cyclisses Lidjwés in Liège) became sections of the GRACQ. At the same time, local Flemish organisations (such as Perpetuum Mobile in Ghent) created an umbrella organisation, the Fietsoverleg Vlaanderen, at the end of the 1990s. The GRACQ joined this organisation in order to ensure a consistent approach in the campaign to re-introduce cyclists into road legislation. This was achieved in 1990, with improvements in 1988 and 2004.
After the creation of the Brussels-Capital region, a Flemish-speaking cyclists’ association, the Greun Veloske, was set up in Brussels. This group co-operated so well with the Brussels-based GRACQ that they set up a joint bilingual service organisation, Pro Velo (1992), whose tasks included working with campaigners from the two cyclists’ unions to look into a complete network of regional cycle paths. This apolitical body was also to extend and professionalise services initiated by its founding bodies, such as bike tours of towns and cities, cycling proficiency training, research into cycling, and so on.
In 1995, the Fietsersbond was created, uniting all Flemish cycling groups. The Greun Veloske became the Brussels section. Since then, interest in cycling has continued to grow and you will come across a flourishing host of associations at Velo-city, each different.
Let’s examine the amorphous groupings of Brussels cyclists.
The Maison des Cyclistes, rue de Londres 15, 1050 Bruxelles, is home to the three main associations, whose members co-operate or have co-membership:
Two unions (membership organisations) which promote the interests of cyclists:
- Le GRACQ – Les Cyclistes quotidiens, non-profit organisation (informal organisation from 1975 to 1992, then registered.
Brussels and Wallonia: www.gracq.org
- Fietsersbond vzw, Flemish-speaking cyclists.
In Brussels: www.fietsersbond.be/brussel
In Flanders: www.fietsersbond.be – info[ad]fietsersbond.be
These two associations frequently collaborate, for example on the ‘I'm buying by bike’ campaign.
A service organisation with no members, helping the public and the authorities to ‘get back in the saddle’
- Pro Velo asbl – Guided cycle tours, training for schools and adults, events (Dring Dring), bike hire – Brussels and Wallonia – www.provelo.be – info[ad]provelo.org
A large number of associations are active in Brussels around the Maison des Cyclistes:
Purely cycling:
- ECF (European Cyclists' Federation) which organises the Velo-city conferences.
- European Union Cyclists' Group – EUCG – association bringing together cyclists who work for European Union institutions in Brussels. Collaborates in many GRACQ and Fietsersbond initiatives – www.eucg.eu – mail[ad]eu-cg.info
Apart from bike mechanics, there are two bike workshops where cyclists can learn to repair their vehicle:
- Ateliers vélo de la rue Voot (the oldest, founded in 1975). It co-operates, among others, with "À Vélo", an organisation co-ordinating the network of bicycle repair workshops in Wallonia – www.avelo.org
- Cyclo (Vlaanderenstraat). Cyclo has been running Brussels’ first ‘bike point’ at the Gare du Nord for the last year.
- Dynamobile, each year organises a cross-border cycling trip for families. Groups number 150 cyclists, and they cycle from Brussels to Belgium’s neighbouring countries. The resulting ten days of media coverage aim to convince the authorities that cycling is a viable means of transport – www.dynamobile.net
- Vélo International, organises an annual trip to Katanga.
- Randovelo and LAF ("Lange Afstand Fietsroutes"). Marked cycle routes in the three regions (Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels-Capital) avoiding major roads. Routes are indicated with yellow and blue markings and often link up to the RAVeL (independent network of slow roads) and the Flemish and Dutch Landelijke Fietsroutes. They are also described in topo guides – www.randovelo.org