Five commuting trends in Belgium
April 2026 - Cycling is on the rise, remote working is here to stay, and cities are leading the way. These are some of the key findings from the latest federal commuting survey for 2024–2025. For twenty years now, the FPS Mobility has been systematically tracking how employees travel to and from work.
As an SME entrepreneur, how do you align your company’s mobility policy with today’s reality? Which five trends have characterised the evolution of commuting in Belgium over the past twenty years?
1. Cycling is rapidly gaining ground
The most notable trend is the sharp rise in bicycle use. Over the past 20 years, the proportion of journeys to work made by bicycle has more than doubled.
· 2005: 7.8% of employees cycle to work
· 2024: 16.5% use bicycles
This growth is mainly at the expense of cars. The share of private motorised transport has fallen from 66.8% to 61.4% over the same period. Public transport, meanwhile, remains remarkably stable.
For SMEs, this means that investing in cycle-friendly infrastructure is becoming increasingly relevant. Consider, for example, a secure bicycle park, showers or changing rooms. These measures make it easier for your employees to choose cycling.
2. Cities are leading the way towards sustainable mobility
A company’s location plays a major role in how employees travel. In cities, sustainable modes of transport are significantly more prevalent than in non-urban areas.
For example, 27% of workers in urban areas use public transport to get to work. This trend is mainly due to improvements in the accessibility and frequency of public transport.
Cycling patterns also differ in urban areas. In Flanders, for example:
· Cities: 27% cycle to work
· Outside cities: 22%
Twenty years ago, this difference was virtually non-existent. For businesses, this means that mobility policies are heavily dependent on location.
3. Distance and accessibility determine the choice
Two factors have a significant influence on how workers travel to work: distance and the accessibility of public transport.
In areas where public transport is less accessible, it is rarely used. At the same time, the car remains the dominant mode of transport for almost all distance categories.
Some notable patterns:
· Cars are used most frequently (up to 75%) when the commute is between 15 and 30 km.
· For distances under 15 km, cycling and other active modes of transport become significantly more important.
· For distances over 30 km, the share of train travel reaches around 34%.
In your SME, an analysis of the distances travelled by employees to get to work can help you implement targeted mobility measures.
4. Employers are investing more and more in mobility
Employers are playing an increasingly active role in their employees’ mobility policies. The last two decades have seen a sharp rise in the number of initiatives.
The most common measures are as follows:
· cycle allowances
· cycle parking
· showers and changing rooms
· company vehicles
· support for remote working
Perhaps in your SME too, mobility is increasingly becoming an HR tool. After all, an attractive mobility programme allows you to attract talent and keep your employees happy.
5. Remote working changes mobility, but does not solve it
The most significant structural change in recent years has been the rise of remote working. By 2024, 63% of organisations will offer remote working options.
Employees are also making effective use of it: 37% work at least part-time from home. This avoids around 13% of commutes.
However, the impact on overall car traffic remains relatively limited. The increase in the number of employees has reduced the number of cars used for commuting by only around 4.5% over 20 years.
