Strava data analysis reveals blind spots in Brussels cycling policy

VUB study identifies the 30 busiest Brussels bottlenecks where bike lanes are missing

May 22, 2026

BRUSSELS, 22/05/2026 - Researchers from the Mobilise research group and the VUB's Data Analytics Laboratory have developed an innovative method to map the effectiveness of cycling infrastructure in the Brussels Capital Region. Researchers Sara and Floriano Tori bridged the gap between data science and mobility expertise to tackle this problem. By combining static government data with anonymised data from the sports app Strava, they were able to identify the places without bike lanes where the need for safe, segregated infrastructure is highest. The results provide a concrete tool for policymakers to target limited budgets more effectively.

"Current planning of cycling infrastructure often relies on manual counts or a limited number of fixed counters," says Sara Tori. "In Brussels, there are currently only 18 such fixed counters, which, moreover, are only located in places where there are already separated cycle lanes. This creates a blind spot: people know how many people cycle on existing cycle lanes, but have no insight into traffic flows on roads where no safe infrastructure is yet in place."

"We wondered how to improve cycling infrastructure in a data-driven way, especially in a context of limited resources," Floriano Tori explains. "By establishing a link between the highly accurate fixed counters and Strava's widespread data, we were able to train a machine learning algorithm. This model can translate Strava activity on any Brussels street into realistic cycling volumes."

The research focused specifically on segments without separated bike lanes. Layering that data over the map of the Brussels Region, the team identified 30 critical locations where the passage of cyclists is similar to that on the city's busiest cycling routes.

The analysis revealed two types of priority zones:

Missing links: places where infrastructure is suddenly interrupted, such as along certain sections of the canal. Here, cyclists continue to use the route even when the cycle path stops.
New arteries: Streets like Dansaertstraat or Troonlaan, with large bicycle volumes but where safe segregated infrastructure is still missing on crucial segments.

Although Strava users are often a specific group (such as confident commuters travelling longer distances), the data offers a unique insight into the 'real' flow of cycling traffic.

With this research, mobility planners have an objective tool to maximise the 'Return on Investment' of new cycle lanes, where it is up to policymakers to identify what the return should be (increased safety, increased cycling volumes,...). Based on the results, the government can now invest further in those places where cyclists are already massively present today, but where their safety is not yet guaranteed.

Reference:

Sara Tori, Floriano Tori, Vincent Ginis, Leveraging Strava Metro Data to enhance urban cycling infrastructure development in Brussels, Journal of Urban Mobility, Volume 9, 2026, 100211, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.urbmob.2026.100211

Contact:

Sara Marie Tori: sara.marie.tori@vub.be, +32 (0)2 614 83 76

Floriano Tori: floriano.tori@vub.be