Brussels’ Pedestrian Zone Is So Crowded It’s Restricting Bikes
The Pietonnier’s popularity has led to frequent clashes between walkers and riders.
People walk in Brussels’ central pedestrian zone in March 2020.
Photographer: Nicolas Maeterlinck/AFP via Getty Images
Ten years after Brussels’ groundbreaking pedestrian zone was first introduced, the city is shifting its policies to prevent becoming a victim of its own success.
When the 50-hectare (124-acre) Pietonnier zone opened in 2015, it was envisioned as a clean, green, walkable heart for the city. Some businesses nearby feared that removing 400 parking spaces and blocking car traffic on what is effectively Brussels’ main drag would harm their trade. Instead, the Pietonnier has boomed. Foot traffic has increased, while the car-free area has become a kind of unofficial main square.