A railway, motorway and canal can divide a small town into disconnected pieces. In Deinze, Belgium, they have also provided opportunities for more direct cycle connections. A CycleRight study visit described by the European Cyclists’ Federation examined how local and regional planning links everyday destinations across large transport infrastructure.
Over a two-kilometre stretch between the station and Molenstraat, visitors counted six cycling tunnels under the railway embankment. These crossings avoid lengthy detours. The 42-kilometre F7 cycle highway follows the Ghent–Kortrijk railway, connecting towns while reducing the need to ride the entire journey on busy streets. In this case the tracks are more than a boundary on a map: their corridor also makes room for a continuous cycle route.
Near Nevele, an old road bridge over the E40 has been repurposed as a crossing for cyclists, pedestrians and wildlife. Elsewhere, a new walking and cycling bridge links the banks of a canal. The projects differ in scale but share an idea: when major transport works are planned alongside local journeys, riders need not choose between safety and a direct route. Deinze’s network comes from a series of well-placed crossings, rather than one spectacular structure.