The cycle path should make traffic flows on the square safer. As an alternative for short-term parkers on the square, a new kiss & ride parking opened in the De Bond car park.
Through targeted interventions, the city of Leuven wants to make the area around the bus station clearer and safer for all road users. For example, the pedestrian crossings at the bus station were repainted and De Lijn installed additional signage.
In addition, the cycle path of the Diestsevest will be extended to the Martelarenplein. "The construction of this cycle path, a missing link, helps to make the traffic circulation in the station area clearer. In order to avoid conflicts, we have chosen to separate the new lane from the roadway, so that cars and buses cannot cross the cyclists there. This is one of the interventions that will make the Martelarenplein and the station area a safer place", says alderman for public works Dirk Vansina.
New kiss & ride locations
Due to the construction of the cycle path, the loading and unloading zone at the Carrefour Express will move to Diestsestraat. You can arrive via Diestsevest and then turn right into Diestsestraat. You can leave via Diestsestraat, Vanden Tymplestraat and Jean-Baptiste Van Monsstraat. Because Diestsestraat is located within the pedestrian zone, suppliers must take the window times into account: Diestsestraat is only accessible by car from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. and from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
“We want to put an end to short-term parkers, who drop off or pick up someone in the loading and unloading zone. Short-term parkers can now go to the De Bond car park. This is safer for the many pedestrians and cyclists and more comfortable for motorists. You can enter and exit for free within 30 minutes. Together with the car park operator, we have created reserved kiss & ride spaces in the car park. New signage will guide cars smoothly to these spaces,” says Alderman for Mobility David Dessers.
Another kiss & ride location in the station area is Parking P1 Station (Kessel-Lo side), where you can park for 30 minutes for free. At the city office, the city provides seven places where you can park for 15 minutes for free and eleven places where you can park for 45 minutes for free.
Timing of the works
The works on the new cycle path will take place between Monday 19 and Friday 30 August. Cars and cyclists do not have to follow a diversion during the works. Traffic can drive in both directions between the square at the Ballon van de Vriendschap and the bus station. During the works, buses and other vehicles longer than 10 metres will follow a diversion via Vuurkruisenlaan and Diestsepoort.