Even though remote work has become the norm since COVID, traffic keeps piling up on our roads. In fact, 2024 was an all-time record year for congestion on Belgian highways. On an average morning rush hour, there were about 159 km of traffic jams, and in 2024 there were 60 days with more than 200 km of gridlock. That’s way beyond pre-COVID records. Sick of wasting hours in traffic? Here are 5 no-nonsense tips to kick that stress to the curb.
Tip 1: Time your commute smartly
If you want to avoid traffic stress, travel outside peak hours. The worst times to be on the road? 7–9 AM and 4–7 PM. Tuesdays and Thursdays are especially brutal. Plan your WFH days around those, or start your morning with an hour of remote work before heading out. You’ll breeze past the rush.
Tip 2: Mix up your commute
Multimodal commuting is a fancy way of saying: combine different ways to get around. Bike to the train, park at a Park & Ride and grab the bus, or hop on an e-scooter for the last mile. You’ll skip the worst bottlenecks and arrive way less stressed. In Flanders, the Hoppin platform bundles all these options (public transport, shared bikes, scooters, you name it) into one handy tool. A little planning pays off big time.
Tip 3: Find the best route
Planning ahead can save loads of time — especially if you drive. Use real-time navigation and traffic apps to dodge trouble.
- Car: apps like Waze give you live updates and reroute instantly.
- Multimodal: tools like Hoppin let you combine trains, buses, shared cars, or bikes to find the fastest option.
- Bike: Belgium already has 130 cycling highways, covering nearly 1,750 miles of smooth routes between cities. Check fietssnelwegen.be to map out safe, traffic-free rides along canals and old railways.
No fast bike yet? Time to fix that 😏.
Tip 4: Hop on a bike
The ultimate traffic hack? Swap your car for an e-bike. More Belgians than ever are discovering how much smoother commuting gets on two wheels. The number of registered speed pedelecs (fast e-bikes up to 45 km/h) has jumped by 133% in just 8 years. In 2023, nearly 15,000 were sold, and by 2024 more than half were obtained through employer leasing — proof that bike leasing is booming.
Which bike fits you best depends on your distance and fitness level:
- < 10 km: a classic city or hybrid bike is perfect. In urban areas, you’ll often be just as fast (or faster) than cars.
- 10–20 km: go for an e-bike cruising comfortably at 25 km/h with little effort. Carrying kids or groceries? A cargo bike, bakfiets, or longtail is a game-changer. (Our colleague Elisa swears by her longtail!)
- 20+ km: a speed pedelec lets you fly to work at up to 45 km/h, leaving motorway traffic in the dust. Just make sure to check the specific rules.
And here’s the kicker: with bike leasing, you can save up to 40% compared to buying. More and more sectors (even government and education) now offer it as a perk.
Not sure how to pitch it at work? Don’t worry. Check out this blog: How to convince your employer to start bike leasing or grab this 2-pager you can forward straight to your boss. Easy-peasy.
Tip 5: Work closer to home
Still stuck with a long, draining commute? Maybe it’s time to work closer to home. Long commutes are exhausting, and many employees actively look for new jobs because of them.
A Belgian study found that nearly 1 in 4 workers would switch jobs just to cut their commute. For those who find it especially tough, that number jumps to 53%. If biking or remote work aren’t options, a closer job could give you back hours of your life — and your sanity.
Bonus tip: some employers get it, too. Regional hubs, satellite offices, or local co-working spaces are on the rise. Talk to your manager about options — from flexible schedules to more WFH. Less time on the road means more time for you, and fewer cars for everyone.
Ready to bike to work traffic-free? 🚲
With bike leasing from Joule, you get more freedom, less stress, and a budget-friendly option. Discover how easy it is to lease your dream bike — and ride to work with a smile every day.
Discover bike leasing with Joule 👇
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Top ervaring! Klantenservice is top. Je kan er terecht met al je vragen en ze blijven altijd even vriendelijk. En ik heb best veel vragen gesteld. Levering was top. Zeker een aanrader voor iedereen.
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Heel gemakkelijk dat de technieker op het werk komt! De technieker was vriendelijk. Onderhoud was snel gedaan. Ik heb heel gemakkelijk de afspraak kunnen wijzigen. Ik heb daarvoor een heel vriendelijke en behulpzame persoon aan de lijn gehad.
