Belgium: can you take your electric bike on public transport?
Taking your electric bike on public transport is a common practice, especially in cities. This is called intermodality. It allows you, for example, to get on the metro with your bike, and then to ride the last few kilometers not served by the line, using your two-wheeler. According to RTBF figures114% of Belgians use a bicycle as their main mode of transport. Among them, 20% use an electric bike!
What are the rules for public transport in Belgium? Can you transport your bike without fear? An overview of everything you need to know.
Can I take my used electric bike on public transport in Belgium?
In general, Belgium tends to do everything possible to facilitate intermodality, and thus offer the possibility of using transport with a bicycle. In Brussels, this is even one of the future solutions envisaged to contribute to the decongestion of roads.
As a result, most Belgian public transport offers you the possibility to travel with your electric bike. For places where this is not yet possible, the kingdom is thinking about setting up solutions allowing it. Find out below where and how to travel with your bike on Belgian public transport.
Regulation of bicycles on public transport (bus, metro, streetcar...)
Belgium is fully committed to green mobility! For this reason, it is easy to travel on most public transport with your bicycle or electric bike, with a few exceptions.
Take your electric bike on the bus
Apart from folding electric bicycles, it is not possible to take a bicycle on Belgian buses, for obvious reasons of space. However, in order to facilitate the intermodality between public transport and bicycles, some lines are trying to develop special offers.
Until December 31, 2022, the TEC has launched a pilot project, allowing you to take your bike on the bus on the E5 Nivelles-Namur express line. All you have to do is place it in a hold or on a bike rack. The transport of the bike is included in the price of your trip, without any extra charge. If the experiment proves successful, the system could be extended to other bus lines in Belgium.
Getting on the metro with your electric bike
In Brussels, it is perfectly possible to take the metro with your bike, every day of the year, except during rush hours on weekdays (Monday to Friday, from 7am to 9am and from 4pm to 6:30pm). To travel with your bike without problems, get on a train designed for this purpose: you will find a pictogram representing a bike on the doors. Once inside, stay close to your bike. Remember that as a cyclist, you do not have priority over other passengers.
In the subway corridors, you will of course have to push your bike on foot. You can use the escalators with your EAB in hand, as well as some elevators when their size allows it.
Travelling by streetcar with your electric bike
On the streetcars in Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent and Charleroi, you can travel free of charge with your bike under the same conditions as on the metro. However, for the Belgian coast streetcar, which serves the sea coast from De Panne to Knokke, you will have to buy a bicycle ticket for €2, subject to availability. During rush hour, it is not possible to take your bike on the Coastal Tram.
Taking your electric bike on InterCity and regular regional trains
In Belgium, all trains are accessible to bicycles, provided there is sufficient space. Most InterCity and regional trains accept bicycles, tandems, tricycles, cargo bikes, etc., as long as you buy a special bicycle ticket for €4, available at station ticket offices or online. If you travel with your two-wheeled vehicle, give priority to journeys outside rush hour. If your bike is foldable, you can take it with you for free.
Please note that some stations in Brussels are not accessible with a bicycle. This is the case of Brussels-Central, Brussels-Chapelle and Brussels-Congress.
To make your trip easier, the SNCB has developed a trip planner called "BikeOnTrain". It allows you to choose the best itinerary to travel with your bike on the trains. You will be able to see in a few clicks the number of bicycle places available on board your train, if the boarding requires the intervention of the controller or to know the height of the train floor.
Take your electric bike on the TGV
It is possible to travel free of charge with your electric bicycle on board the TGV in Belgium if it is a folding bicycle stored in a bag or an ordinary bicycle with the front wheel removed. You just have to put it in the luggage compartment. Don't forget to label your bag with your name and seat number.
Electric bike and Thalys
The Thalys being a European train, the rules are a little different from those applied in Belgian transport. Thus, only folding bicycles contained in a bag can be taken free of charge on the Thalys. They must then be placed in the space reserved for luggage at the end of the cars.
Combine bike and train easily in Belgium
If the idea of taking your electric bike on the train doesn't appeal to you, there is another alternative that more and more Belgian stations are offering: bike rental on site. This is the case in about 60 stations in Belgium!
Another solution if you come to the station with your bike: leave it in one of the SNCB bike parks. All stations have free (unsecured) bicycle parks. There are also bicycle parks at seven Belgian railway stations: Antwerp-Berchem, Bruges, Brussels-North, Kortrijk, Gent-Sint-Pieters, Mechelen and Nivelles, which are secured by an access control system.
Our tips for travelling with your electric bike on public transport
Folding electric bicycles are accepted on many public transport systems. However, there are some rules to follow when traveling with your EAB to ensure a smooth ride.
For example, we recommend that you pack your electric bicycle before your transport arrives, so as not to delay its departure. If possible, use off-peak hours to take public transportation with your used electric bicycle and place it in a place where it will not be in the way. If you have a storage bag, use it to prevent your electric bicycle from getting caught on other users. Place your E-bike in a stable position on the ground and make sure that it does not fall on anyone. Even though folding electric bikes are often quite light, they weigh at least a dozen kilos for the most advanced models. That's enough to hurt someone if you fall!
Although most Belgian transport systems welcome all passengers with their bicycles, there are a few rules of courtesy that should be observed with regard to other users. First of all, remember that cyclists never have priority over other passengers. So, if the transportation you wish to take is too full, you will have to wait for the next one.
If you are taking the train with your electric bike, meet the conductor before you get on. He will show you the most suitable carriage. Choose routes with few changes. If necessary, use the trip planner "BikeOnTrain".
The used folding electric bike: a practical bike for easy travel
When fully folded, folding bicycles can be taken on all types of transport, at all times, as they are considered to be packages. This makes them ideal for worry-free travel. There are a number of top-quality Belgian folding electric bicycle brands to choose from, including Upway.
L'Avenir, the oldest Belgian bicycle manufacturer, offers two folding EAB models: the Fold It Life and the Fold It Comfort. Both are equipped with an extremely reliable Shimano Steps electric motorization.
Ahooga is also a Belgian brand of electric bikes, much more recent. Born in 2015, it designs featherweight hybrid electric bikes. Its folding model is the lightest electric bike: the 24V model weighs only 13 kg! The perfect ally for intermodality!
Another Belgian company, Venilu is located in Nivelles. It has been designing electric bikes since 2017 with the ambition of simplifying urban mobility in an environmentally friendly way. It offers two ranges of folding EABs: the Urbana range and the Vida range. The Venilu Urbana X Black model is one of the lightest folding electric bikes on the market. Weighing less than 15 kg, this ebike is the perfect choice for everyday use.
When choosing your folding electric bike, make sure it's light enough that you can easily lift it to take it with you on public transportation. Also, pay attention to the battery capacity, which should allow you to easily complete your daily commute without needing to be recharged too frequently.
