Kwerps Traffic-Calming Flower Boxes Face Criticism Following Crash

Erps-Kwerps (Eurotoday) – Recent traffic changes on Zavelstraat in Erps-Kwerps, a part of Kortenberg, have raised safety concerns after a 54-year-old cyclist suffered a head injury in a crash. Local resident Kenny and members of the opposition party VA are now calling for the removal of the newly installed flower boxes.

According to VRT News, the municipality of Kortenberg, located in Flemish Brabant, Belgium, recently implemented several measures designed to discourage speeding and prevent the road from being used as a shortcut. Among those changes are speed cameras and large grey flower boxes placed in the center of the street to slow down vehicles. However, the strategy has prompted backlash after a cyclist collided with one of the flower boxes and sustained a head injury.

The incident has sparked renewed criticism. Kenny, a resident of the area, claims the flower boxes have already led to several dangerous situations. He notes that many vehicles accelerate between the flower boxes, then suddenly brake for the speed cameras, only to speed up again afterward, creating unpredictable traffic patterns.

Are traffic-calming flower boxes putting cyclists at risk?

Members of the political group VA are urging the local government to reassess the new road design, arguing that it has made Zavelstraat more hazardous. Hans Vanhoof, a Kortenberg council member, voiced concerns about the flower boxes, stating that their central placement on the road confuses cyclists, who are unsure whether to pass them on the left or right. He also pointed out that the dark grey color of the boxes makes them difficult to see, especially in low-light conditions.

Critics argue that traffic solutions, even when well-intended, can create new dangers if they are not designed with all road users in mind. In this case, they say the unclear placement and lack of visibility of the flower boxes create confusion and increase the risk of accidents, particularly for cyclists.

Kenny believes that the flower boxes should be removed immediately to prevent further incidents. Although they were introduced to reduce speeding, he argues that they have made the road more dangerous for both drivers and cyclists. According to Kenny, alternative traffic-calming methods should be explored—ones that don’t compromise road safety.

His concerns are shared by councilman Vanhoof and the VA political party, who are calling on Kortenberg’s local authorities to reevaluate the design of Zavelstraat. Vanhoof emphasized that ensuring the safety of all road users should be the top priority. He supports temporarily removing the flower boxes until a safer traffic management plan can be developed and implemented.

So far, the town’s traffic official has not publicly responded to the incident, and no changes have been announced.