2023-11-12 07:16:00
With an overall score of barely 10.4/20, Belgian pedestrians are not really satisfied with their walking conditions on the roads of the Flat Country, according to the results of the first Belgian Pedestrian Barometer revealed on Sunday.
More than 13,500 people residing in Belgium expressed their opinion on the “walkability” of their municipality during an opinion survey carried out by three associations promoting walking and defending pedestrians (Tous à Pied, Voetgangersbeweging and Walk. brussels ) between April 24 and June 30 on behalf of the FPS Mobility and Transport.
Respondents were questioned as much regarding what motivates them to travel as regarding comfort, safety or even the arrangements and changes in the situation of pedestrians.
Widespread dissatisfaction
First observation of the barometer, all pedestrians agree on what is “walkable or not” and the dissatisfaction is shared by the entire pedestrian community regardless of the reasons for travel, age or even the gender, according to the authors of the study
Thus, 70% of those questioned think that public spaces are not suitable for travel on foot, or with a stroller, people with young children, the elderly and people with reduced mobility. Furthermore, 64% of women do not feel safe at night and adapt their path compared to 49% of men.
69% of pedestrians say they are bothered by nuisances (air and noise pollution) generated by motorized vehicle traffic. (illustration) ©EdA – Julien RENSONNET
70% of those questioned think that public spaces are not suitable for traveling on foot.
Another lesson from the barometer is that pedestrians are particularly critical regarding the comfort of their travel on foot. 80% of them deplore the lack of facilities to ensure their comfort (toilets, benches, shelters, drinking water dispensers) and 69% of them are bothered by the nuisance (air and noise pollution) generated by the circulation of motor vehicles.
Des obstacles
Furthermore, 65% believe that pedestrian routes are not free of obstacles (bicycles, trash cans, parking meters, panels, charging stations, etc.) and more than 60% denounce the quality of spaces intended for pedestrians both in regarding their width, the materials used or even their maintenance.
Only 18% of respondents consider that an 8-year-old child can travel safely on foot when alone.
Only 18% of respondents believe that an 8-year-old child can travel safely on foot when alone. (illustration) ©Jean Luc Flemal
It is therefore not surprising that wider, well-maintained, secure and decluttered sidewalks top the respondents’ expectations (82%). Pedestrians also expect improvements with regard to safety and the adaptation of public spaces for young children on foot or in strollers, for the elderly and people with reduced mobility. Only 18% of respondents believe that an 8-year-old child can travel safely on foot when alone.
Wallonia stumbles
The perception of pedestrians is also generally less good in the Walloon Region than in Flanders and Brussels. Cohabitation between different users (pedestrians, bicycles, scooters, motorized vehicles) is considered more problematic in large cities and therefore in the Brussels Region.
Concerns heard by the Federal Minister of Mobility and Transport, Georges Gilkinet (Ecolo) who is delighted with the success of this first barometer. “For the first time, an in-depth survey on the needs of pedestrians, in which 13,500 people participated, might be carried out. It is a success. And the results clearly indicate that there are still many points to improve to make their lives easier,” the minister underlined.
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These results clearly indicate that there are still many areas for improvement to make their lives easier.
”Cities and municipalities can now rely on this concrete data to define priorities and improve the safety and comfort of pedestrians in their territory. We all have an interest in working together at all political levels to encourage even more people to walk more often. It’s good for health, for mobility and for the climate,” he concluded.
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