Cyclist of the month: Jenny Carson

As a volunteer for Fietsersbond Tervuren, I've interviewed local celebrities including our longest serving member and former postman, Jef, who once cycled with Belgian champion Eddy Merckx. 92-year young Jef still cycles from Tervuren to Leuven for shopping. Interviewing our latest Cyclist of the Month, I talked to Jennifer Carson. As a safety expert at the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) and Tervurenaar, Jenny had the privilege of learning to cycle as a child in the Netherlands. Here's a translation of the original in Dutch.

What is your speed record on a bicycle? Where? When?

My speed record on the bike is probably 37 km/h as I descend the hill from Vier-Armen/Quatre-Bras to Tervuren. Of course, I never cycled that fast when taking the kids to school when they were younger. At that time, I wasn't on an e-bike. And perhaps I was more cautious then. I'm also not afraid of other cyclists going too fast, especially if the cycle path is wide. I've never felt unsafe when being overtaken by faster cyclists.

Do you cycle to work or take the children to school by bike?

About twice a week, I cycle to work on my e-bike into Cinquantenaire Park. It's about 9-10 km. The route isn't perfect. I dislike the muddy bicycle forest path on the way back [Editorial note: partially EU-funded]. I've never slipped there, but I just don't feel safe. Besides, my beautiful bike gets dirty, and I love my bike. That path is not worthy of the name bicycle highway.

What bike do you have? And why?

I bought my electric bicycle here in the village at Cyclic so that I could cycle to work. It's from KALKHOFF BIKES , purchased five years ago. Before that, I had a regular bicycle. I don't cycle for exercise. I do other things for sport. I just want to get from A to B as quickly as possible. Traveling to Brussels by bike is faster than by car. Since I bought my e-bike, we got rid of our other car.

What is your best moment on the bike?

My best moment on the bike was probably in the Netherlands when we cycled along the coast. It's so nice there with lots of fresh air. It's flat. And that's where I grew up.

The worst moment on the bike?

My worst moments are the near misses with cars. For example, at Vier-Armen/Quatre-Bras when coming out of the forest, drivers often do not look at cyclists. Maybe the Editorial note: €5.4mn partially EU-funded] bicycle bridge will solve that problem there. But one thing is lacking in Belgium: conflict-free crossings. That's because cars turn right into pedestrians and cyclists since they all have green lights. I never find that safe. Why don't we let people wait at conflict-free crossings? At least they did that at the intersection at Carrefour/Oppemstraat in front of the tram and cars. Why not for people who walk or cycle there? Hundreds of children cross the road every day on their way to school.

When and why did you start cycling? Is cycling easier, safer here than where you come from?

I was born in the Netherlands and therefore started cycling at a very young age. It is much easier and safer there than in Belgium. In the Netherlands, cycling is so normal, and you can go everywhere by bike, even as a child. I continued cycling in Belgium. When will Belgium catch up with the Netherlands? That's so hard to say. Who would have thought that Brussels would evolve so quickly in terms of cycling infrastructure during Covid? Things have progressed even though there are still dangerous points in Brussels, especially if you commute by bike from Tervuren.

What is your greatest wish for cyclists in Tervuren?

In Tervuren, I would like to see more and better cycling infrastructure, especially in the center. During the morning rush hour, the center of Tervuren is full of cars, and there is little room for cyclists. Even though we now have a bicycle lane [Editorial: technically a bicycle suggestion zone] on the Brusselsesteenweg, it is full of cars in the morning when children go to school. Let's hope that the bicycle lanes help change people's mentality a bit.

Are you a member of the Fietsersbond cyclists' association? Why or why not?

In 2018, I became a member of the Fietsersbond because I wanted to stay informed about what is happening for cyclists and mobility in our village and on the way to work.