Photographer:Fotograaf: Loraine Bodewes Fotografie
At the beginning of next year, the Brusselsestraat will undergo some changes. After these changes have been implemented, cyclists will be allowed to cycle up and down the street.
This became clear after the city council held a committee meeting last Monday. Most of the fractions reacted positively to the plan presented by alderman Albert Nuss (mobility). The Maastricht Cycling Union is also satisfied. “It increases the quality of the city centre and will encourage the use of bicycles.” The Senior’s party, Stadsbelangen (City Interests) and the Liberale Partij Maastricht (LPM, the Maastricht Liberal Party) were opposed. They feel that safety has been insufficiently safeguarded. The LPM foresees “cyclists flying through the air”.
The discussion about the Brusselsestraat has been going on for thirty years. Alderman Nuss has not taken this decision lightly; the past few months, he spoke with residents and other parties involved. Comments in favour of maintaining the historic look of the street – no asphalt, but cobblestones – were included in the final design. There will be footpaths on both sides, the parking spaces will be moved to the right-hand side (coming from the city centre) and on the left-hand side there will be a bicycle path for cyclists coming from the direction of Emmaplein. Mopeds are not allowed to use this path.
The Grote Gracht will remain one-way traffic.
Wendy Degens