Alderman Koen Kennis (N-VA) on poor result Bicycle Report: “Green and a few bicycle activists create an unsociable atmosphere” (Antwerp)
The city of Antwerp gets five out of ten in the bicycle city report. That is rather a poor result. According to Antwerp alderman for Mobility Koen Kennis, this does not correspond to reality. “It is Groen and a few bicycle activists who mainly create an unsociable atmosphere,” says Kennis.
Sacha Van Wiele
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The report is based on a survey by the Fietsersbond and the Flemish Traffic Science Foundation. In Antwerp, 751 people completed this survey. They gave a figure out of five for cycling infrastructure – experience and communication. The highest figure was three out of five for the signaling of the bicycle routes. The lowest figure was 1.8 out of five for where cyclists could go with their questions and complaints. Mortsel did better with an investment of eight out of ten. This city also has a chance to win the title of Bicycle City of 2022.
“Of course I attract some Antwerp residents, but this figure does not match the reality in Antwerp at all,” says Kennis. “We have done a tremendous amount of work in recent years. Just look at, among other things, the bicycle paths, the bicycle streets and follow the electric shared bicycles for the Antwerp region. That the motorist gets out of the car and onto the bicycle is thanks to my policy. In the rest of Flanders and abroad they see that too, and we get praise for that too.”
According to Kennis, the reason that Antwerp residents give a low score to Antwerp’s bicycle policy is due to something else. He therefore points a guilty finger at Groen and some bicycle activists.
“Yes, as a cyclist I am sometimes also annoyed by traffic, such as cyclists and motorists who drive through a red light,” says the ships. “Only depending on a very unsociable atmosphere, cycling around in Green in particular has soured and divides the people. People who fill out this survey also circulate in those circles. I therefore call on them to stop this and show more optimism instead of turning sour. It’s sad that they think so low about their city. That is why I appreciate the international lists in which Antwerp scores well. That is because they are drawn up on the basis of objectives.”
Finger on the pulse
Groen himself makes a different analysis of this survey. The party remembers, among other things, that only a few respondents consider the streets safe enough to allow children to cycle to school.
“This survey keeps a finger on the pulse of cyclists in Antwerp”, says Groen councilor Niel Staes. “That is why it is such an important barometer for us. Antwerp likes to boast of its position on international rankings, but forgets to listen to its own residents. They remain very critical and expect more from the city. Rightly so. So this report is a stronger wake-up call that it should be.”