Helmet wear for federal officials who lease bicycle “Cycling in Brussels is not for dojes” (inland)
What has been possible in private life for years also applies to the around 60,000 federal officials from the beginning of next year. Use their thirteenth month to lease a bicycle for a tax -beneficial way. You then purchase a new bike very cheaply.
Big difference with the private, on the other hand: in the newly published circular letter about this, Minister of Civil Service Matz (Les Engagés) is obliged civil servants who lease a bicycle, « to use a bicycle helmet when using it ». That is confirmed by her cabinet.
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For the sake of clarity, the assistance obligation does not apply to federal officials who cycle to work with their own bicycle-a non-yellow two-wheeler. « But for the bicycle leasing, users must meet a series of obligations, such as the helmet obligation, » said the government.
Minister of civil servants Vanessa Matz.
The trade unions are aware: « The obligation noticed us in the discussions about the conditions for the Fietsleasing. We ultimately did not have any fundamental objections to it, partly because many federal officials in the center of Brussels work. And that is not the safest environment in terms of bicycles, » said Johan Lippens of ACV Public Services.
He also nuances the « obligation ». « We suspect that it will not be strictly checked immediately, » said Lippens.
Antwerp
A helmet obligation also applies to the staff of the city of Antwerp, specifically during employment. That was a condition for insurance company Ethias when concluding a new contract with the city council. There was a lot of criticism of that obligation then. Among other things, the Groen party feared that many employees did not see such a helmet obligation, and then left the bike to the left, which would reduce bicycle use.
The Fietsersbond responds more nuanced to the helmet obligation for federal officials. « There is a difference between commuting from federal employees and an Antwerp official who is obliged to wear a helmet for also very short journeys, for example between two nearby offices of the city. In the latter case we found that obligation somewhat exaggerated, » says Wies Callens of the Fietsersbond.
Speedpedelecs
« But at Fietsleasing we see that electric bicycles or even faster speedpedelecs are often chosen, » said Callens. « In the latter case, a helmet is simply required by law. With e-bikes, wearing it is nevertheless recommended. »
Callens continues to be surprised about the fierce discussions about bicycle helmets, and whether they should be mandatory. « It would be better a bit more often about safe bicycle infrastructure, more streets where a zone 30 applies. So that bicycles generally become safer, with or without a bicycle helmet. »
