Kortrijk (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The Provincial Council has officially approved the F7 cycle highway route, connecting Kortrijk and Waregem via Harelbeke to promote sustainable transport.
In addition to passing the three stations, the bike highway will run parallel to the railroad line.
Deputy for Mobility Kelly Detavernier (N-VA) stated,
“We now have a roadmap ready to construct the entire 13-kilometer route in several phases.”
Yesterday’s West Flemish province council approved the province Spatial Implementation Plan (PRUP). The precise path of the cycle highway and the property that must be acquired for it are now clear after a protracted wait.
“This is an important step forward,”
Says Detavernier.
“Thanks to this PRUP, the municipal authorities involved have legal certainty. Thanks to the expropriation plan, the necessary land can be acquired more efficiently.”
“In some places, the cycle highway will resemble a cycle street along existing municipal roads. Where this is not possible, a new cycle path will be constructed,”
It is said.
It will be a four-meter-wide asphalt bike route with a one-meter strip on either side for lighting and signs. Additionally, an additional 4 meters will be set aside for an open ditch that will be used to move existing streams and drain rains. The entire width of the route will be 10 meters.
The start date of the project is still unknown.
Between Ghent and Kortrijk, the F7 cycling lane traces the path of the railway. It is hoped that the completed route would offer a seamless cycling connection between the two cities as well as all of the surrounding towns and cities.
The cycle highway is nearly complete in East Flanders, Belgium. Ghent to Waregem is already accessible by bicycle. A new bike tunnel was opened on the Zulte route at the end of April.
How will the new cycle highway between Kortrijk and Waregem benefit cyclists?
The cycle highway will offer a designated, roomy (about four meters) bike path that is safe and comfortable, reducing stops and collisions with cars. More individuals, especially commuters and less experienced cyclists, are encouraged to pedal as a result.
For daily commutes or longer journeys, riding is a feasible alternative to driving since the cycle highway, which provides a largely uninterrupted route between the two cities, cuts down on travel time when compared to traditional bicycle infrastructure.
The infrastructure is made to support the growing popularity of e-bikes and speed pedelecs. This increases the catchment area for riding excursions by enabling cyclists to travel farther and faster at more comfortable speeds.
By connecting Kortrijk and Waregem, the route improves regional mobility and links residential neighborhoods, places of employment, educational institutions, and facilities.
