Mobiel 21 recognised for cycling safety study with mothers in Leuven, Belgium

The European Road Safety Charter (ERSC) has recognised Mobiel 21 (Belgium) as its Good Practice of the Month for June 2025. The selected project, “Cycling mothers show path to more road safety,” explores the cycling experiences of mothers commuting with their children in Leuven.

Using a method called Customer Journey Mapping, researchers accompanied 18 mothers on their morning bike rides to school. At key points along each route, participants rated how safe they felt. These rides were followed by interviews to gather deeper insights. The study revealed common concerns, including high traffic volumes, lack of safe infrastructure, poor signage, and unsafe behaviour from other road users.

Based on these findings, Mobiel 21 developed recommendations for safer cycling environments, including protected cycle paths, speed reductions, and awareness campaigns. The project provides a valuable model for improving family cycling safety in other cities.

Find the latest and future Good Practices of the Month on the European Road Safety Charter website. 

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Author: Dearbhla Mullin

Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and do not reflect those of the European Commission.