De Lijn Trials Safety Initiatives to Curb 500 Cyclist Accidents Annually in Ghent

Ghent (Eurotoday): De Lijn is testing new safety measures for cyclists near tram tracks in Ghent, where 500 accidents happen annually. The plan includes adding anti-slip coatings and redesigning tracks to make cycling safer, especially in bad weather. Alderman Filip Watteeuw is leading this effort.

In mid-October, De Lijn began tests to improve safety for cyclists near tram tracks. Cyclists can easily get stuck in the grooves of the tracks, especially when turning or crossing at an angle. This risk is even greater in rainy weather when tracks and manhole covers become slippery. To help prevent accidents, the city is considering redesigning tram track areas, enhancing maintenance, and adding anti-slip coatings or textured surfaces in key spots.

What measures is De Lijn implementing to improve cyclist safety near tram tracks?

It has been said that this initiative is part of a bigger plan to improve safety for cyclists on streets that have tramlines. The testing phase helps the authorities check how effective these safety measures are in reducing accidents before they are applied more widely in the city. By targeting these high-risk areas, De Lijn aims to make cycling safer and decrease the number of falls and injuries related to the tram system, especially during bad weather.

De Lijn is making metal surfaces rougher by adding an anti-slip layer to help cyclists grip better. The first tests were successful, so they expanded the project to nearby streets. However, Demerling said there isn’t enough money or time to do this all over Ghent. They are also looking for other ways to stop falls on tram tracks, as at least 500 people are injured each year from them.


Comments

One response to “De Lijn Trials Safety Initiatives to Curb 500 Cyclist Accidents Annually in Ghent”

  1. Automatic Slicer Avatar
    Automatic Slicer

    Oh splendid! Just what we needed—more anti-slip coatings to help cyclists navigate our charming tram tracks like it’s some kind of obstacle course. 🍷 Next they’ll be adding a “Cyclist’s Survival Guide” to the tram map! 😂

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Last News

Latvian Defense Minister Resigns Amid Leadership Changes on NATO’s Eastern Flank

Latvian Defense Minister Resigns Amid Leadership Changes on NATO’s Eastern Flank

Last Thursday, two stray Ukrainian drones crossed the Russian border and crashed in Latvia, with one exploding at an oil storage site in eastern Latvia. Ukraine’s Foreign Affairs Minister Andrii Sybiha stated that Russia’s electronic warfare redirected the drones. Latvia and Lithuania have appealed to NATO to enhance air defenses in their region following the event.
Andris Sprūds, an a

Read More

Ukraine’s Sense Bank scandal tests faith in wartime anti-corruption efforts

Ukraine’s Sense Bank scandal tests faith in wartime anti-corruption efforts

Ukraine’s anti-corruption drive has been rocked by allegations that a state-owned bank seized from sanctioned Russian owners was captured by a politically connected influence network tied to one of the country’s largest corruption investigations. The affair has also fuelled concerns that the bank could be used to launder money.
The claims centre on Sense Bank, formerly Alfa-Bank Ukraine, which w

Read More

Redesigning the Financial System for Growth

Redesigning the Financial System for Growth

An event by MFA.
One year after launching the Leeds Reforms and Financial Services Growth and Competitiveness Plan, the progress in transforming the UK’s financial system to spur growth is evaluated. Key figures from Westminster, financial regulators, and the financial services industry gather to discuss the Government’s financial services agenda and its impact on economic growth prospects.
Focus

Read More

US Trade Crisis Worsens: Container Imports Drop in 2026

US Trade Crisis Worsens: Container Imports Drop in 2026

WASHINGTON, United States  – May 8, 2026 – Eurotoday — US trade crisis concerns intensified after newly released shipping data showed that container imports into the United States declined by 5.5% during April 2026. Analysts say growing geopolitical instability, shifting tariff policies, and weakening business confidence are beginning to reshape global trade patterns and supply chain strategies.
T

Read More

URI Europe Regional Assembly, "Sacred Earth, Shared Humanity" and the Presentation of the PARTESS-COM Project

URI Europe Regional Assembly, "Sacred Earth, Shared Humanity" and the Presentation of the PARTESS-COM Project

By BRIDGES team
From April 29 to May 3, 2026, the URI Europe Regional Assembly, themed “Sacred Earth, Shared Humanity: URI Europe Responses to Violence and Harm,” took place at the Martí Codolar Centre in Barcelona. Cooperation Circles of the United Religions Initiative (URI) gathered to reconnect, share experiences, celebrate diversity, and develop joint actions for the future. The Assembly incl

Read More

The Far Right’s Campaign Against French Cinema

The Far Right’s Campaign Against French Cinema

If the National Rally wins the Elysée in the upcoming election, they might fulfill their proposal or reallocate funding to other priorities.
“People from the cinema world live in another reality, not understanding the financial struggles of the French,” stated Philippe Ballard, a National Rally lawmaker advocating for reduced state cinema funding.
Ballard noted that his constituents are frustrated

Read More

2026 Sees Rising Humanitarian Tensions and Civilian Concerns in the Middle East

2026 Sees Rising Humanitarian Tensions and Civilian Concerns in the Middle East

WEST BANK, Palestine – May 9, 2026 – Eurotoday Newspaper — Middle East humanitarian tensions increased sharply this week after a Palestinian family claimed Israeli settlers forced them to exhume and re-bury a deceased relative in a separate location inside the occupied West Bank. The incident has generated widespread regional attention and renewed debate over civilian rights, settlement expansion,

Read More

Frontex Official Warns of Arms Smuggling Risks in Post-War Ukraine

Frontex Official Warns of Arms Smuggling Risks in Post-War Ukraine

The EU’s Frontex deputy head has cautioned about a “high” risk of weapons smuggling from Ukraine to the EU if a war-terminating agreement with Russia occurs.
“There could be weapons smuggling on a larger scale, posing a security challenge for Europe,” stated Frontex Deputy Executive Director Lars Gerdes to WELT, which is part of Axel Springer, the owner of POLITICO.
H

Read More

Bulk Carrier Struck by Unknown Projectile Amid Rising Iran Gulf Shipping Tensions

Bulk Carrier Struck by Unknown Projectile Amid Rising Iran Gulf Shipping Tensions

DUBAI, Qatar – May 10, 2026 – Eurotoday Newspaper — Iran Gulf shipping tensions moved back into the international spotlight after the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations confirmed that a bulk carrier operating northeast of Doha was struck by an unknown projectile while sailing through Gulf waters. The incident immediately triggered heightened concern across global shipping markets, energy sec

Read More

Bulgarian Orthodox Church Engages with European Institutions

Bulgarian Orthodox Church Engages with European Institutions

On Europe Day, Metropolitan Anthony of Western and Central Europe discussed the significance of faith and the Orthodox Church in a united Europe during an interview with the Bulgarian National Radio. He expressed a message of love and peace, emphasizing the potential for unity in Europe despite modern divisions.
Metropolitan Anthony stressed that our unity should be based on “the solid foundation

Read More