Other Transport Guide
Cycling is a very popular recreation in Belgium, and though many people also cycle to work, the weather, cobble-stoned streets, and hills can be a deterrent. The city does try to encourage cycling to ease the congestion and one move the city in particular has undertaken is to build bicycle hand-rails that are placed on some hills in the city where cyclists can hold onto a moving rail and be aided up the hill. Brussels is also one of the cities with the newly introduced commuter bicycle system known here as Velo-city. People pay a small fee to use a bicycle that can be found at special bicycle stations around the city, dropping it off at another station close to their ultimate destination. The network has expanded rapidly over the last couple of years, with new stands being opened almost on a monthly basis, making it more convenient to use. The network has hundreds of bicycles and many stations around the city, with more being continuously added. Added advantages are that using this service for work saves your employer on tax and of course, also is very healthy. Subscriptions cost 10€/yr and members are issued a card they can use to access the bikes. The bikes are then rented for 50 cents for the first 30 minutes, and then 50 cents/hr after that. Short-term memberships can also be made from any Velo-city kiosk or at a Brussels Tourist Office. More information can be found at http://www.velo-city2009.com/index-en.html
