Initiative details
In the Maritime Neighbourhoud of Molenbeek, we identified multiple road safety barriers that disproportionately affect children and women. Many vulnerable residents, especially children, do not have access to a bike or a safe space to ride, making it difficult to learn and practice cycling. Public space is often dominated by car traffic, and children are rarely given the opportunity to move independently and safely. Additionally, many women never learned to ride a bicycle or have lost confidence due to long-term disuse and fears around traffic. A lack of infrastructure, awareness, and cycling culture further limits active mobility. Through Openstreets, we tackled these challenges by creating car-free zones, offering safe spaces for learning, practicing, and enjoying cycling. We provided access to bikes, organized lessons for women and children, and ensured on-site bike repair services. This comprehensive approach helped remove practical, cultural, and emotional barriers to cycling. In doing so, we promoted cycling as a safe, accessible, and empowering mode of transport and helped shift perceptions of who “belongs” on the road.
Initiative date
to
Who was/is your target audience?
Policy makers
Public authorities
Children 0-16
Young adults 17-25
Adults
Parents
Seniors
Company employees
Fleet operators
Car drivers
Car drivers – professional
Educational staff
Emergency services
Public transport
Van drivers
Lorry/truck drivers
Cyclists
Micromobility riders
Powered two wheeler riders (excluding micromobility)
Pedestrians
Others
Topic
Create awareness
Education in school or in community organizations
Improve vehicles and infrastructure
Knowledge building and sharing
Provide alternative solutions
Training
Organisation details
Filter Café Filtré Filtré
Association
Belgium
Brussel
Contact name
Annekatrien Verdickt
Telephone number
+32477258638
annekatrien@gmail.com
Website link
Project activities
If you work together with external partners, list the most important partners and briefly describe their role.
-Molembike: Long-term partner offering the Barak à Fiets mobile repair service and leading bike parades for families.
-Tata Bicyclette: Co-developing a year-round bike library for children, with high-quality loan bikes adapted to different sizes and needs.
-Vélos Solidaires: Providing adult bicycles for women’s cycling lessons and guided rides.
-Hirond’Elles: Organizing cycling lessons for women and children, as well as local guided rides to build confidence and skills.
-Au Passage : Donated children’s bicycles, which were repaired or dismantled to reuse parts.
-Kidical Mass Brussels: Co-organized the final group ride in August, showcasing the cycling progress made by children over the summer.
-Tata Bicyclette: Co-developing a year-round bike library for children, with high-quality loan bikes adapted to different sizes and needs.
-Vélos Solidaires: Providing adult bicycles for women’s cycling lessons and guided rides.
-Hirond’Elles: Organizing cycling lessons for women and children, as well as local guided rides to build confidence and skills.
-Au Passage : Donated children’s bicycles, which were repaired or dismantled to reuse parts.
-Kidical Mass Brussels: Co-organized the final group ride in August, showcasing the cycling progress made by children over the summer.
Please describe the project activities you carried/are carrying out and the time period over which these were implemented.
Activities were designed around four pillars: access to a bike, bike repair, cycling education, and cycling culture. Key actions included:
-Establishing a children’s bike library at the Barmacie and collecting bikes for redistribution.
-Weekly bike repair workshops, run by volunteers, offering free or donation-based services.
-A mobile repair unit (Barak à Fiets by Molembike) visited the summer streets twice a month.
-Twice-weekly cycling lessons for women and children, led by Hirond’Elles.
-Guided rides and parades, such as the Molembike parade and the August Kidical Mass ride.
-Cultural programming like Cycle & Toile, a mobile cinema on a cargo bike showing bike-related films.
-Establishing a children’s bike library at the Barmacie and collecting bikes for redistribution.
-Weekly bike repair workshops, run by volunteers, offering free or donation-based services.
-A mobile repair unit (Barak à Fiets by Molembike) visited the summer streets twice a month.
-Twice-weekly cycling lessons for women and children, led by Hirond’Elles.
-Guided rides and parades, such as the Molembike parade and the August Kidical Mass ride.
-Cultural programming like Cycle & Toile, a mobile cinema on a cargo bike showing bike-related films.
In terms of implementation, what worked well and what challenges did you need to overcome?
Creating safe, car-free spaces on weekends was one of the most successful elements. It immediately allowed families and children to reclaim public space and practice cycling in a low-pressure environment. The mobile repair workshops and the presence of trusted organizations like Molembike helped draw participants and create a welcoming, inclusive atmosphere. Cycling lessons for women were particularly well-received, providing both practical skills and a sense of empowerment.
However, several challenges emerged. First, the shortage of adult bicycles for cycling lessons limited the number of participants. This was partially solved through a partnership with Vélo Solidaire. Second, the logistics of transporting and maintaining loan bikes required significant volunteer coordination. Despite these difficulties, the project showed that targeted support, local partnerships, and community-based infrastructure can significantly improve cycling safety and accessibility in underserved neighborhoods.
However, several challenges emerged. First, the shortage of adult bicycles for cycling lessons limited the number of participants. This was partially solved through a partnership with Vélo Solidaire. Second, the logistics of transporting and maintaining loan bikes required significant volunteer coordination. Despite these difficulties, the project showed that targeted support, local partnerships, and community-based infrastructure can significantly improve cycling safety and accessibility in underserved neighborhoods.
Evaluation
Please summarise how you have evaluated the initiative’s impact (e.g. social media reach, survey, feedback forms, statistics).
The evaluation of Openstreets was carried out using a mix of qualitative and quantitative tools. A strong focus was placed on visual storytelling: we documented the full trajectory, before, during, and after the events, through professional photography and video testimonies. These materials captured participation levels, diversity, and atmosphere, offering insight into both impact and reach.
We also monitored our social media engagement across platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Daily posts and videos reached a broad audience, with visible spikes in interaction during key events.
On the ground, feedback was gathered through informal conversations, WhatsApp neighborhood groups, and direct interactions during activities. Volunteers and partners also provided input through debriefs and regular coordination meetings.
We also monitored our social media engagement across platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Daily posts and videos reached a broad audience, with visible spikes in interaction during key events.
On the ground, feedback was gathered through informal conversations, WhatsApp neighborhood groups, and direct interactions during activities. Volunteers and partners also provided input through debriefs and regular coordination meetings.
What has been the effect of the activities?
The Openstreets initiative significantly transformed the way public space is used and perceived in the Maritime District. By making streets car-free and programming them with inclusive cycling and cultural activities, we created a safe and welcoming environment for people who are often excluded from urban mobility, especially women, children, and vulnerable residents.
There was a visible increase in cycling confidence, particularly among beginners and children. Thanks to cycling lessons and access to bikes, many participants learned to ride for the first time or regained lost skills. Children who had never cycled in public before took part in group rides, which became a celebration of their progress.
Moreover, the initiative sparked wider conversations about the use of public space, mobility justice, and the role of culture in urban transitions. Its success has inspired both continued local engagement and interest from other cities, showing that small-scale interventions can have lasting systemic impact.
There was a visible increase in cycling confidence, particularly among beginners and children. Thanks to cycling lessons and access to bikes, many participants learned to ride for the first time or regained lost skills. Children who had never cycled in public before took part in group rides, which became a celebration of their progress.
Moreover, the initiative sparked wider conversations about the use of public space, mobility justice, and the role of culture in urban transitions. Its success has inspired both continued local engagement and interest from other cities, showing that small-scale interventions can have lasting systemic impact.
Please briefly explain why your initiative is a good example of improving road safety.
Openstreets is a strong example of improving road safety because it addresses the issue holistically and inclusively. Rather than focusing solely on infrastructure or enforcement, it creates conditions for safe, accessible, and joyful cycling through a combination of physical intervention (car-free zones), education (cycling lessons), and support (repair and bike lending).
It particularly prioritizes those most at risk, children, women, and low-income residents, by removing barriers such as cost, fear, and lack of skills. By activating the streets repeatedly over time, the project normalizes active mobility and builds trust in the public space. It also involves the community directly, reinforcing a shared sense of responsibility for safety and accessibility.
Through Openstreets, safety is not just about reducing accidents, it's about ensuring that everyone feels entitled and empowered to use the street.
It particularly prioritizes those most at risk, children, women, and low-income residents, by removing barriers such as cost, fear, and lack of skills. By activating the streets repeatedly over time, the project normalizes active mobility and builds trust in the public space. It also involves the community directly, reinforcing a shared sense of responsibility for safety and accessibility.
Through Openstreets, safety is not just about reducing accidents, it's about ensuring that everyone feels entitled and empowered to use the street.
How have you shared information about your project and its results?
We aim to consolidate and expand the Openstreets model to ensure long-term impact beyond temporary interventions. In 2025, we will launch a permanent children’s bike library in collaboration with Tata Bicyclette, providing year-round access to quality bikes for families who cannot afford them. We also plan to strengthen the bike repair infrastructure at the Barmacie, enabling ongoing maintenance support throughout the year.
On a broader level, we aim to integrate Openstreets into policy-making, working with municipal and regional authorities to make active mobility a structural part of urban planning. We will continue to use culture and public space as tools for social inclusion, and reinforce partnerships with organizations working in health, youth, and climate.
Finally, we intend to export and adapt our model to other neighborhoods and cities through collaborations, toolkits, and knowledge sharing, while staying rooted in local participation and co-creation.
On a broader level, we aim to integrate Openstreets into policy-making, working with municipal and regional authorities to make active mobility a structural part of urban planning. We will continue to use culture and public space as tools for social inclusion, and reinforce partnerships with organizations working in health, youth, and climate.
Finally, we intend to export and adapt our model to other neighborhoods and cities through collaborations, toolkits, and knowledge sharing, while staying rooted in local participation and co-creation.