"Up and down the length of the 650-metre-long space, people come and go, bikes and scooters weaving in and out of the crowds. Next year, this scene will look somewhat different: bikes and scooters will be banned from this 18,000-sq-metre pedestrian zone for most of the day. People on two wheels will be allowed to ride only between 4am and 11am. At all other times, they must dismount and push their vehicle up the street, or face a fine."
"Anais Maes, the city counsellor in charge of urban planning and mobility, suggested not all cyclists obeyed the existing 6km speed limit. In everyday reality, people do not respect that rule or don't know it, and so it creates conflicts. Maes, a member of the Dutch-speaking socialist Voorhuit party, is aware of small accidents and complaints from pedestrians. I've heard multiple persons say, especially older persons or persons with little kids, or persons with reduced mobility, [that] they don't feel safe,"
Le Pietonnier is a 650-metre pedestrian zone in central Brussels that hosts tourists, cafes and a Christmas market outside the Bourse. Bikes and scooters currently weave through crowds but will be banned from the 18,000-sq-metre space for most of the day, with riding permitted only between 4am and 11am; outside those hours riders must dismount or face fines. City councillor Anais Maes cited poor compliance with a 6km speed limit, small accidents and pedestrian complaints, noting older people, families and those with reduced mobility feel unsafe. Officials have not set an exact start date as council negotiations continue. The Pietonnier was extended a decade ago to reduce traffic, improve greenery and revitalize the city centre, transforming a four‑lane road into a calmer public space.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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