Ghent (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – A cycling institution launched its doors for business in Ghent this afternoon. The city council is implementing this initiative to broaden cycling education availability for adults, youth, and children. The waiting list at present includes 250 residents of Ghent.
The cycling school in Ghent recently launched its services to instruct adults, young people, and children in cycling skills. The school operates in Ghent’s Muide-Meulestede district as the city council launched this initiative to handle the increasing interest in cycling lessons which currently has 250 people waiting. Cycling lessons in Ghent have been taught annually by 37 volunteers to approximately 450 residents since 2010. The new space at the venue will both extend the educational options and offer bicycle taxicab transportation for residents who need assistance.
A cycling school operated by Koopvaardijlaan offers students a special training program that teaches safe cycling techniques. Part of the curriculum contains practical educational components like a mini seesaw and instructions about dealing with trams. The program exists as a pilot initiative that will undergo testing over multiple years to evaluate its potential as a future operation. Cycling lessons will run in different neighbourhoods of Ghent throughout this time.
Alderman Joris Vandenbroucke (Voor Gent) emphasised the importance of the initiative, stating,
Everyone should have the chance to learn to cycle. It is a lever against transport poverty. And it is also simply fun and healthy. With the cycling school, we want to make cycling accessible to all Ghent residents.
What is the history behind Ghent’s cycling school initiative?
For multiple years, Ghent has championed cycling as an environmentally friendly form of transport for all residents. The city managed to establish cycling lessons by volunteers starting in 2010, which annually teach around 450 residents. The high demand for cycling lessons exceeds lesson availability because 250 people remain on the waiting list while the teaching capacity remains fixed annually at 450. The new cycling school in the Muide-Meulestede district enhances capacity while teaching specialised skills, including tram track mastering and tin seesaw balance exercises to the community.
Studies of municipal records demonstrate that cycling functions as a fundamental component of Ghent’s urban existence since bicycle journey represents more than 22% of total travel activity.
The city has invested heavily in cycling infrastructure, including 400 kilometres of cycling paths and initiatives like the “Circulation Plan,” which prioritises pedestrians and cyclists in the city centre. As part of its dual mission, Ghent receives support from the cycling school in achieving goals to eliminate transport poverty and develop transportation activities that promote health and sustainability. The school campus will offer bicycle taxi transportation to serve students together with other residents requiring mobility help.
