Some traffic signs and rules for cyclists in Leuven

Disclaimer: the images and information used in this document have been taken from the Facebook
page from the student cop in Leuven (Nick Vanden Bussche) and from Google Maps Street View.
It can be that some information is no longer correct, because rules can be changed. This document was
posted online on 14th October 2014.

One-way streets

A few one-way streets (the ones where people make the most mistakes):
- Tiensestraat between the ring road and Hooverplein (entrance city park), only allowed to cycle in the
direction of the ring road. Youre allowed to cycle in both directions between Hooverplein and Rector
De Somerplein!

ABOVE: These signs mean you are allowed to cycle here.

BELOW: One-way street, youre not allowed to enter Tiensestraat from this direction. The sign has no
extra sign below it that says uitgezonderd (exception) for bikes.

- Vaartstraat: No traffic allowed in the direction of the ring road.

- Blijde Inkomststraat: All traffic in the direction of the ring is prohibited. Only traffic towards
Ladeuzeplein is allowed.

- Monseigneur Ladeuzeplein (in front of the central university library): Traffic is only allowed
clockwise, never counter clockwise. Look at the traffic signs!

- Koning Leopold I-straat: Not allowed for all traffic in the direction of Ladeuzeplein.

- Charles Deberiotstraat (auditorium Pieter De Somer, aka PDS): Not allowed for all traffic in the
direction of Naamsestraat (BTW its also not allowed to cycle in the city park!).

Pedestrian zones

The time period during which youre allowed to cycle in a street where the third sign is active, can
differ. In Leuven most of the signs say 6.30 pm till 11 am.
A few examples of streets in the pedestrian zone:
- Muntstraat (the street with a lot of restaurants): Cycling is NOT allowed!

- Leopold Vanderkelenstraat (Museum M): Cycling is always allowed in both directions! The time
period mentioned on the sign, is meant for people loading and unloading their vehicle (laden en
lossen in Dutch), so as a cyclist those times are not important.
I know this is complicated. Also al lot of Belgians have problems understanding these signs.

- Vital Decosterstraat (FNAC): Youre only allowed to cycle here between 6.30pm and 11am (so in the
evening, during the night and in the morning) in both directions. The time period is always
mentioned on the traffic sign under the picture of the bike. The other time period mentioned, is
meant for people loading and unloading their vehicle.

- Diestsestraat (shopping street parallel with Bondgenotenlaan): Only allowed to cycle between
6.30pm and 11am in both directions. See previous entries for more info.

Fines
Some examples of fines:
* Ignoring a red light: 165 EURO
* Cycling or driving in the wrong way in a one-way street: 165 EURO
* Using your phone while cycling/driving: 110 EURO
* Cycling in a pedestrian zone when its not allowed: 55 EURO
* No working lights (white or yellow light in the front and red light in the back) on your bike or
yourself while cycling in the dark: 55 EURO
* Its not allowed to transport another person on your bike if there is no seat for him/her. I dont know
how much the fine would be. I know a lot of people do this, but if the police sees you, you will get a
fine.

* The situation at Naamsepoort (the crossroads where Naamsestraat meets the ring road) is not really
clear for many students and other cyclists. When its a red light, cyclists are not allowed to turn right
to take the bicycle path and wait at the traffic light there. This is seen as jumping a red light. Normally
you should wait at the traffic lights and then go right to use the crossing for cyclists and pedestrians. A
lot of people dont do this, they just cross the road in the same way as the cars do. This can be
dangerous, because drivers dont expect cyclists to be there. Be very careful if you do this, even better
just dont. I know its easier to just cross the road directly instead of taking the bicycle path, but its
not allowed and can be dangerous. If the police sees you, you will get a fine.

If you have questions about anything or want to report a crime, you can go to the police station or to
the student cop (we call him the studenteninspecteur or studentenflik in Dutch, he is an official
policeman). His name is Nick Vanden Bussche.
You can find him at:
- LOKO (s Meiersstraat 5 in the centre): Tuesday between 12h00 and 14h00 and Thursday between
19h30 and 21h30.
- De Moete (small Alma restaurant on Campus Arenberg next to Acco bookshop): Monday and
Wednesday between 12h00 and 14h00.
- Pangaea: every first Saturday of the month between 14h00 and 16h00.
He will not be at these locations during the study and exam period and during the holidays.
You can also contact him through e-mail (politieantenne@kuleuven.be) or (for emergencies only)
mobile phone 0499 25 85 75. On Facebook you can look for him by the name Studenteninspecteur
Politie Leuven or Studentenflik Politie Leuven. He has two different accounts, but posts everything
on both pages. On Twitter he can be found as StudentenFlik. Unfortunately he only writes posts in
Dutch.
Of course for emergencies its best to call the EMERGENCY NUMBER 101 (police), 100
(ambulance/fire department) or 112 (European general emergency number)!!!
For police its best to call 101 instead of 112 in Belgium. Not all emergency call centres from the
police have merged yet with the 112 call centres. So it can take an extra step to contact the police if
you call 112. In a situation where every second counts, that extra step can mean life or death. Maybe
the whole operation of merging every call centre together is finished now, I dont know that for sure.
For medical aid or in case of fire you can call 100 or 112. Here it doesnt matter, because both
numbers are connected with the same call centres (they merged already).

I hope this document helped you understand a few traffic signs/rules in Leuven better and have less or
no fines during your stay in Leuven. I know we are students. We want to be rebellious and be
somewhere as quick as possible (especially when its something fun), but just be careful what you do
and walk/cycle/drive safely.

BTW Im by no means linked to the police. I made this document just to inform international students
on some confusing traffic rules. Its best to get no fines and if you do get one, its even more stupid if
you could have avoided it by knowing the rules. Every year the student cop informs a lot of students
through his Facebook and Twitter accounts, but he does not always connect well with the many new
international students. He gives information during the Orientation Days and he does this very well,
but I think there could be more. Thats why I decided to make this document.