Commuting by bike at Brussels Airport

Hi Julien & Koen, 

Thank you for taking the time to share your bike experience with us.

What motivates you to commute to work by bike?  

Koen: I like sports in general and it keeps me healthy. When you commute to work by bike, you have a better resistance against sickness. Moreover, I am faster by bike than by car.

Julien: For me personally, I commute by bike because it reduces my stress levels. It is not only good for my physical condition, but it also helps me mentally to start and end my working day in a more relaxed way.

Koen: I totally agree. A bike ride clears your head completely. Also during weekends, I hop on my racing bike and the feeling is just amazing.

How do you prepare for your bike ride and what do you pay attention to?  

Koen: Well, I have an e-bike so I do not need a special outfit. We have showers here in the office so I can always freshen up if needed.

Julien: I have a regular bike, so my workout is a bit more intense. But that is totally fine! I make sure that I am visible and always wear a helmet for safety.

Koen: Safety and visibility are super important when you bike, and I am happy that the cycling infrastructure is improving around the airport.

Why would you recommend cycling to work?  

Koen: For me it is simple, I did not want to be stuck in traffic anymore. I save time by biking to work. I live in Zemst and it takes me 24 minutes by bike. With the car it might be 30 or 40 minutes. Another colleague came by car this morning and it took him 50 minutes to get here.

Julien: We both live relatively close to the cargo area of Brussels Airport, but not all colleagues do. However, I would recommend them to park their bikes at a train station close by and combine their journey with a train ride. If we do not think of other commuting options, the traffic jams will only get worse.

Do you bike to work every day? Even in bad weather conditions?

Julien: I have a rain jacket and waterproof trousers, so I also cycle when it rains. Everything depends on the situation of course. In winter I use the car more often because it is darker, and it tends to be more dangerous in combination with bad weather.

Koen: I commute by bike every other week because I have a daughter to take to school. Since she also has her school material, it is easier to use the car those days. 

According to you, which facilities should be available at your workplace?   

Julien: We have a bike park with security cameras, so our bikes are always safe and dry.

Koen: There are no charging points yet at the bike park, but I remove the battery and recharge it, right here at our warehouse.

Julien: We also have a bike allowance, which is an additional motivation to commute by bike. In general, I think we are heading in the right direction and are curious about the upcoming cycle infrastructure here at BRUcargo.

That’s the spirit! Let’s motivate even more colleagues to follow your example 😉