Sustainable Mobility 

in Flanders: 

How to Cut Your CO₂ Footprint with Cycling, Trains and Buses

Sustainable mobility is gaining ground in Flanders. An ever-growing number of people are consciously opting for environmentally friendly modes of transport such as cycling, trains and buses. This rising trend makes a substantial contribution to reducing CO₂ emissions and helps Flanders meet its climate targets. With just small changes to our daily travel habits, we can make a big difference for a cleaner, more sustainable future.

Sustainable Mobility Trends in Flanders

According to the Verplaatsingsgedrag Vlaanderen 7 travel survey, 18.5% of all journeys in Flanders were made by bicycle in 2023. By 2024 that share had risen to 22%. This is a strong step towards the region’s ambition of having 30% of all trips taken by bike by 2030. This growth aligns seamlessly with Flanders’ sustainable mobility goals.

Looking specifically at commuting, the 2023 federal survey shows that 32% of Belgian employees regularly cycle to work. And the trend is accelerating. According to Acerta’s Mobility Barometer (January 2025), cycling now accounts for 41.2% of all commuter trips, up from 32% in 2023. That is a jump of more than 28% in just two years. More than one in three people are consciously choosing an active, healthy and climate-friendly way to commute.

Driving: Convenient, but Not Always Green 🚙

Cars remain a familiar mode of transport for many Belgians, but when it comes to sustainability they score poorly. A petrol car in Belgium emits on average 130 to 150 grams of CO₂ per kilometre, and diesel vehicles slightly more at between 131 and 173 grams. Every kilometre not driven is therefore an immediate win for the climate.

If you really need a car, consider car sharing. Research in Flanders shows that schemes like Cambio significantly reduce annual car mileage and therefore emissions. Car-sharing users report cutting their car use, saving an average of 175 to 265 kg of CO₂ per person per year. It is a smart and flexible way to keep mobility green.

Electric cars also deserve a mention. A recent life-cycle study by the Vrije Universiteit Brussel shows that battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in Belgium emit on average 60–70% less CO₂ over their entire life cycle than comparable petrol cars. Transport & Environment calculated in June 2022 that the average European BEV has up to 69% lower life-cycle CO₂ emissions than a petrol car – and in the best-case scenario (green electricity and efficient battery production) this rises to 80% less. The benefit continues to grow as our electricity grid becomes greener and batteries are recycled more often. Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) in practice achieve much smaller gains than test figures suggest because they are not always driven electrically.

In short, if you can’t do without a car, choose a shared vehicle or an electric car powered by green electricity. In terms of emissions, that’s far better than a conventional petrol or diesel vehicle.

Pedal Away Your Emissions: The Bicycle as Climate Champion 🚲

Cycling is without doubt one of the greenest and smartest ways to travel. Pedalling produces zero tailpipe emissions. Even electric bikes are highly eco-friendly, with just 1 to 3 grams of CO₂ per kilometre.

Just imagine: by replacing a single daily car journey with a bike ride, you can save between 0.4 and 0.5 tonnes of CO₂ a year. That is the equivalent of hundreds of car trips. Cycling easily cuts 75 to 100% of the CO₂ emissions per journey. It is a small daily choice with a major impact.

Cycling also benefits your health and your wallet: no more fuel bills or expensive parking, and many employers offer a per-kilometre cycling allowance. In other words, pedal and profit. What are you waiting for? Get on your bike and help pedal Flanders towards a sustainable future.

Travelling by Train: Greener Than You Think 🚅

SNCB/NMBS is one of the frontrunners in sustainable mobility, and the numbers prove it. Electric trains emit just 19 to 24 grams of CO₂ per kilometre on average, up to seven times less than the typical car. With full trains, emissions per passenger drop even further.

For longer journeys, the train is a smart and environmentally responsible choice. Thanks to Belgium’s relatively green electricity mix, over 40% from renewable and nuclear sources according to the Federal Public Service for Economy (2024), the ecological footprint of NMBS trains is particularly small. By choosing the train, you actively contribute to sustainable mobility in Flanders without sacrificing comfort or speed.

Travelling by Bus: A Smart and Sustainable Choice 🚌

Buses operated by De Lijn are another strong and sustainable alternative to cars. City buses emit on average 96 to 106 grams of CO₂ per passenger-kilometre, while long-distance coaches perform even better at 30 to 90 grams depending on occupancy. This is far lower than the typical petrol or diesel car.

Buses score particularly well when they are full. Although ridership plummeted during the pandemic, public transport use has been climbing back since 2022 and by 2023 it was back to pre-COVID levels. Thanks to recent investments, more and more Flemish commuters are returning to the bus. Especially during rush hours, the per-person CO₂ difference between car and bus is striking. Travelling by bus is therefore not just practical but also a serious step towards a cleaner, more climate-friendly Flanders.

Putting Emissions in Perspective

Every kilometre you swap the car for a bike, train or bus saves around 100 to 150 grams of CO₂. Small choices can make a big difference:

•  🚲 Cycling instead of driving three times a week saves 0.4 to 0.5 tonnes of CO₂ a year
• 🚆 Taking the train to work three times a week saves 0.35 to 0.4 tonnes of CO₂ a year
• 🚌 Taking the bus instead of the car saves 0.3 to 0.4 tonnes of CO₂ a year
• 🚗 Every kilometre less by car means 130 to 150 grams less CO₂ 

By choosing the bike or train for your commute just three times a week, you save 0.35 to 0.5 tonnes of CO₂ annually. That is equivalent to more than 5,000 kilometres of driving, or a return trip by car from Brussels to Moscow. All that simply by changing how you travel.

Make the switch to sustainable mobility today and help create a cleaner, healthier Flanders!