Step 3 of 35Cyclists and cycle lanes
Chapter 1 · 13 rules

Cyclists and cycle lanes

Know where cyclists ride, how to treat them, and the rules for bike streets and cyclist groups.

1. Cycle lanes and shared paths2. Where cyclists cross or join the road3. Bike streets and cyclist groups

Section 1Cycle lanes and shared paths

1

Cycle lane

Official source · art. 2.7 · last amended 1991-01-01Het fietspad maakt geen deel uit van de rijbaan.Open the full article on Justel
The round blue sign indicates a path reserved for cyclists and class A mopeds. Here, the cycle path is paved in red alongside the carriageway.

[L03_01_0.jpg] The round blue sign indicates a path reserved for cyclists and class A mopeds. Here, the cycle path is paved in red alongside the carriageway.

A part of the road reserved for bikes and class A mopeds (max 25 km/h), on the left or right of the carriageway. It is marked by a blue sign or by two parallel broken lines, and may be red but does not have to be. It is not carriageway: cars may not drive, wait or park on it.
Obligatory bicycle lane.
2

Coloured strip without a sign (suggestion lane)

Official source · art. 74Het deel van de openbare weg dat afgebakend is door twee evenwijdige witte onderbroken strepen en dat niet breed genoeg is voor het autoverkeer, is een fietspad.Open the full article on Justel
These red painted strips along the road are cycle suggestion lanes without white markings. They remain part of the carriageway, meaning motor vehicles are allowed to drive, stop, or park on them.

[L03_09_0.jpg] These red painted strips along the road are cycle suggestion lanes without white markings. They remain part of the carriageway, meaning motor vehicles are allowed to drive, stop, or park on them.

A coloured strip with no cycle-lane sign and no double broken lines is just carriageway. Cars may drive, stop and park on it.
3

Shared path, symbols side by side

Official source · art. 69.3 · last amended 2010-01-01Deel van de openbare weg voorbehouden voor het verkeer van voetgangers, van fietsen en van tweewielige bromfietsen klasse A.Open the full article on Justel
Blue sign with a pedestrian and a bike next to each other: walkers and cyclists each keep to their own side. Class A mopeds and speed pedelecs use the cycle side.
Segregated route for, on the one side for pedestrians, on the other for cyclists and class A mopeds.
4

Shared path, symbols one above the other

Official source · art. 69.3 · last amended 2010-01-01Deel van de openbare weg voorbehouden voor het verkeer van voetgangers, van fietsen en van tweewielige bromfietsen klasse A.Open the full article on Justel
Pedestrians and cyclists share the whole path. Mopeds (class A or B) are not allowed.
Shared path, single sign
Pedestrians and cyclists only
5

White plates for mopeds

Official source · art. 69.4 · last amended 2016-10-01Een onderbord van het model M.6. bedoeld in artikel 65.2 moet het verkeersbord D7 aanvullen wanneer het fietspad moet gevolgd worden door de bestuurders van tweewielige bromfietsen klasse B.Open the full article on Justel
The white underplate with 'B VERPLICHT' beneath the blue cycle path sign indicates that class B mopeds are obligated to use this cycle track.

[L03_04_0.jpg] The white underplate with 'B VERPLICHT' beneath the blue cycle path sign indicates that class B mopeds are obligated to use this cycle track.

A white plate can say that class B mopeds must use the cycle lane, or that they may not.
B mopeds must use it
B mopeds may not use it
6

Where cyclists ride

Official source · art. 9.1.2 · last amended 2022-10-01de fietsers van minder dan 10 jaar mogen in alle omstandigheden de trottoirs en de verhoogde bermen volgen.Open the full article on Justel
If there is a cycle lane, cyclists must use it. Inside built-up areas, only children under 10 may ride on the footpath. Outside built-up areas, with no cycle lane, cyclists may ride on the footpath or the verge on the right.

Section 2Where cyclists cross or join the road

7

Cyclist crossing

Official source · art. 76.4De oversteekplaatsen die de fietsers en bestuurders van tweewielige bromfietsen moeten volgen om de rijbaan over te steken, worden afgebakend door twee onderbroken strepen gevormd door witte vierkanten of parallellogrammen.Open the full article on Justel
The blue traffic sign is placed next to a crossing for cyclists and two-wheeled mopeds.

[L03_07_0.jpg] The blue traffic sign is placed next to a crossing for cyclists and two-wheeled mopeds.

A place where cyclists and mopeds cross the road. A red warning sign stands about 150 m before it and a blue sign at the crossing.
Sign at the crossing
8

At a cyclist crossing

Official source · art. 40terHij mag een oversteekplaats voor fietsers en bestuurders van tweewielige bromfietsen slechts met matige snelheid naderen teneinde de weggebruikers die er zich op bevinden, niet in gevaar te brengen en ze niet te hinderen wanneer zij het oversteken van de rijbaan met normale snelheid beëindigen.Open the full article on Justel
Cyclists who want to cross give way to road traffic. Drivers approach slowly so they do not hinder or endanger anyone already on the crossing. No waiting or parking on it or within 5 m before it.
9

End of a cycle lane

Official source · art. 66.4 · last amended 2022-10-01Open the full article on JustelOfficial source · art. 12.4 · last amended 2014-03-01Wordt niet als manoeuvre beschouwd : zich op het einde van een fietspad op de rijbaan begeven om rechtdoor te rijden [ of van rijstrook of van file veranderen bij het ritsen bedoeld in artikel 12bis] .Open the full article on Justel
When a cycle lane ends and the cyclist rides onto the carriageway, the cyclist has priority and the car behind must give way. Stopping or parking is forbidden within five metres before and after the end of the cycle lane.
Where a cycle track ends, stopping and parking are forbidden on both the roadway and the shoulder within 5 metres before and after that point.

[anim:cycle-lane-ends] A cycle lane that ends

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This warning sign means cyclists are leaving the cycle lane and joining the road. They have priority. Do not wait or park within 5 m before or after that point.
1. Crossing for cyclists and moped drivers (!: placed 150m in front of the crossing) 2. Crossing for cyclists and moped drivers at a place where a bicycle lane emerges onto a road (!: placed at the crossing)

Section 3Bike streets and cyclist groups

10

Bike street / bike zone

Official source · art. 22noviesOpen the full article on Justel
In this bicycle street, marked with the blue sign, motor vehicles are treated as guests: they may not overtake the cyclists and their speed is capped at 30 km/h.

[anim:bike-street] A bike street

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Cyclists are the main users and cars are guests. Max 30 km/h, and motor vehicles may not overtake cyclists, speed pedelecs or bikes up to 1 m wide. The zone starts and ends at its signs.
Start of bike street
End of bike street
11

Groups of 15 to 50 cyclists

Official source · art. 43bis.2.1 · last amended 2004-01-01De wielertoeristen die in een groep van ten minste 15 tot ten hoogste 50 deelnemers rijden, zijn niet verplicht de fietspaden te volgen en zij mogen bestendig met twee naast elkaar op de rijbaan rijden op voorwaarde dat zij gegroepeerd blijven.Open the full article on JustelOfficial source · art. 43bis.2.2 · last amended 2004-01-01Zij mogen voorafgegaan en gevolgd worden, op een afstand van ongeveer 30 meter, door een begeleidende auto; indien er slechts één begeleidende auto is, moet deze de groep volgen.Open the full article on Justel
Tourist cyclists may ride two abreast in a group.

[anim:cyclist-group] A group of cyclists

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Groups of cycling tourists have special rights. They may ride two abreast and stay together, in the right lane only. On a road without lanes they may use at most the width of one lane, and never more than half the road. They may have an escort car about 30 m in front and behind.
12

Groups of 51 to 150 cyclists

Official source · art. 43bis.1 · last amended 2004-01-01De groepen van meer dan 50 deelnemers moeten worden vergezeld door ten minste twee wegkapiteins.Open the full article on Justel
Same rights, but they must have at least two road captains and escort cars about 30 m in front and behind, with a special blue sign.
Escort car roof board
13

Cyclist groups at junctions

Official source · art. 43bis.3.3 · last amended 2004-01-01Op de kruispunten waar het verkeer niet geregeld wordt door verkeerslichten, mag ten minste één van de wegkapiteins het verkeer in de dwarswegen stilleggen op de wijze bepaald in artikel 41.3.2., terwijl de groep met inbegrip van de twee begeleidende voertuigen oversteekt.Open the full article on Justel
At a junction without traffic lights, a road captain may stop traffic while the group crosses.

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