Flemish bike paths examined by measuring bicycle

  • Soort:Nieuws Fietsberaad
  • Datum:03-10-2011

In Flanders Fietsersbond has examined comfort and quality of approximately 1,300 kilometres of bike paths in 16 cities using a special measuring bicycle. Whereas the bike paths score relatively high on width and distance between bike path and road, the scores for vibration comfort are low.


In order to allow institution of a dedicated investment programme, Flemish minister Crevits has provided 16 cities with an opportunity to record the state of the bike paths within their city limits by means of the measuring bicycle. The measuring equipment on this bicycle has been developed by KU Leuven and the information technology institute of Hogeschool Universiteit Brussel. Fietsersbond has measured comfort and quality of the bike paths with the aid of five measuring bicycles. Of the 1,300 kilometres of bike paths measured, 63% lie along city roads and 36% along regional roads.
The results demonstrate that in particular, vibration comfort is a problem. The materials used are mostly decisive for the comfort of the bike paths. Of the monolithic materials, cement concrete is used most often, in 36% of the bike paths. Asphalt is present in 21% of the bike paths. Non-monolithic material is used in 40% of the cases, of which over 30% consist of concrete paving. However, it is not only the material that determines the comfort, but also its age. Asphalt scores best with an average of 6.2 irrespective of age and 7.9 when only recently constructed bike paths are considered. Cement concrete scores 4 and 6.2 respectively for recently constructed bike paths. Paving stones score 3.4 and 4.3 respectively.
In order to increase vibration comfort and guarantee the levelness of new bike paths a standard for levelness was included in the standard specifications for the construction of bike paths for the first time in April of 2011. The standard specifies that the maximum unevenness should be at most 5 mm over a distance of 3 metres. This should ensure better scores for new bike paths in future.

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Flemish bike paths examined by measuring bicycle

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