Eurovelo 5 now fully signposted on Brussels territory
Last Thursday, the Brussels Capital Region inaugurated the Brussels bit of the EuroVelo 5 cycling route from Canterbury, UK, to Rome and Brindisi, Italy, thus confirming its ambition to favour active mobility. This is a symbolic step also for Eurovelo, as the new route visits the European neighbourhood, where the ECF's offices are located. Brussels wants to encourage the use of the Eurovelo infrastructure, including for daily commuting and short-haul tourism.
On 24 March 2022, Mobility Minister Elke Van den Brandt, Member of the European Parliament Anna Deparnay-Grunenberg, and senior officials from the European Commission, visit.brussels, Pro Velo and the European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF) inaugurated the EuroVelo 5 – Via Romea (Francigena) cycle route in Brussels.
Covering 3,200 km and 7 different countries, EuroVelo 5 connects Canterbury in the United Kingdom to Brindisi in southern Italy via Brussels, where it is now fully signposted after signs were installed this month, an achievement with great symbolic value as the route takes cyclists through the heart of the EU institutions along the famous Brussels Rue de la Loi.
Elke Van den Brandt, Brussels Minister for Mobility, said:
“In cities like Brussels, cycling has enormous potential as one of the easiest, most sustainable and cost-efficient ways to get around town. Our guiding principle for cycling infrastructure since we started in 2019 has been “build it and they will come.” And they have: the number of cyclists is booming in Brussels. These international routes give our cyclists the opportunity to taste the freedom of cycling across borders, connecting them with fellow Europeans.”
The narrow blue plates are recognisable on the Brussels itinerary of Eurovelo 5, entering via the canal in Drogenbos to then crossing the historical city centre and the European Quarter, and lastly leaving the city through the majestic Cinquantenaire Park and the scenic avenue de Tervueren.
A dynamic website is in place to detail the segments of the route and the visited regions.
