The importance of cycling as a mode of transport has been rising sharply in recent years. Cycling has never been more popular in Flanders, nor has investment in cycling infrastructure. To further support this positive evolution with scientific research, a new chair was established at Ghent University, with financial and substantive support from the Flemish government.
Specifically, the Cycling Chair was installed within the Geography department of UGent's Faculty of Sciences and will run for three years. The promoter of the chair is Professor Frank Witlox of the Department of Geography.
With this new chair, the Flemish government and UGent want to further strengthen the ambitious Flemish cycling policy with academic knowledge and insights. The chair holder will take up a role in several relevant training units at UGent and work closely with the many actors involved in cycling policy in Flanders.
From left to right:
- Joyce David (PhD researcher)
- Meredith Glaser (Chair holder and Cycling Professor)
- Frank Witlox (Promoter of the Chair)
What is a Chair?
Companies, organizations, or individuals who wish to fund scientific research or education on a specific topic can do so through a chair. It is a form of collaboration with the university on new developments in areas that are important to society.
Learn more about how a chair works at www.ugent.be.
A Cycling Professor for Flanders
Thanks to the Cycling Chair, Flanders now has its own Cycling Professor. Dr. Meredith Glaser, an internationally respected academic with about 15 years of experience in spatial planning, transport, and mobility, has been appointed as an academic expert for more and safer cycling in Flanders. Originally from California, she has lived in the Netherlands for many years, where she collaborates with the Dutch Cycling Professor, Prof. Dr. Marco te Brömmelstroet.
In Flanders, the Cycling Professor will conduct scientific research on several specific themes, which will be determined in consultation with a steering committee representing Ghent University, the Flemish Department of Mobility and Public Works, and the Knowledge Center for Bicycle Policy (Fietsberaad). Possible themes include cycling safety, influencing cycling behavior and usage, and the development of smart technologies to make cycling more comfortable and safer.
Cycling Chair Team
The Cycling Chair has the thematic goal of supporting, evaluating, and further developing Flemish cycling policy. The team contributes to this objective through research and collaboration with policymakers and other stakeholders, and consists of the following individuals:
Frank Witlox, Promoter of the Chair
Prof. Dr. Frank Witlox obtained a PhD in Urban Planning (Eindhoven University of Technology, supervisor Harry Timmermans), a Master's Degree in Applied Economic Sciences, and a Master's Degree in Maritime Sciences (both from the University of Antwerp). He is currently the department chair and full professor of Economic Geography in the Department of Geography at Ghent University (UGent). Witlox leads the Research Group on Social and Economic Geography (SEG) at the Department of Geography. Additionally, he serves as the chair of the Institute for Sustainable Mobility Research at UGent (IDM, Institute for Sustainable Mobility).
Meredith Glaser, Cycling Professor and Chair Holder
Dr. Glaser earned a Master's degree in Urban Planning and Public Health from the University of California, Berkeley. She completed her PhD in Planning at the University of Amsterdam (UvA). Glaser serves as the Executive Director of the non-profit organization Urban Cycling Institute and is a lecturer at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Behavior at UvA. At UvA, she supervises master’s research and develops interdisciplinary social science research on cycling policy.
Joyce David, PhD Researcher
Joyce David obtained a Master’s degree in Health Education and Promotion from Ghent University, complemented by a degree in Traffic engineering and Mobility (VIVES University College). David previously worked as a mobility officer in an urban context. Her work experience enables her to connect practice and theory. In her PhD research, she focuses on an interdisciplinary approach to cycling promotion, with particular attention to children.
New publication: ScienceDirect – Journal of Urban Mobility
Cycling Advisory Committee
An advisory committee oversees the objectives of the Cycling Chair and their implementation. It is also responsible for the annual evaluation of the Chair.
The advisory committee consists of members who are affiliated with Ghent University, the Department of Mobility and Public Works, as well as the knowledge center for cycling policy Flanders, Fietsberaad.
Financial Support from the Flemish Government
The Cycling Chair receives a subsidy of up to €249,999 from the Flemish government for operational costs, the salary of the visiting professor, and a PhD researcher.
Dr. Meredith Glaser:
"Worldwide, cycling is increasingly on the political agenda in cities, and for good reason. Cycling can help solve multiple challenges related to sustainability, health, inclusion, and the economy. However, governments and stakeholders struggle to translate existing mobility research into concrete policy initiatives. My appointment demonstrates that the Flemish government is open to learning and receiving feedback from science. I look forward to supporting this positive collaboration between science and practice. In this way, we can generate new knowledge that directly improves decision-making."
Representation and Memberships
The Chair of Cycling is actively represented in several Flemish advisory boards and expert groups.
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Flemish Forum for Road Safety (member)
The Flemish Forum for Road Safety (VFV) serves both as a platform for consultation and as an advisory body. Participating organizations align their efforts, exchange knowledge and experience, and jointly formulate recommendations to the Flemish Government aimed at improving road safety in Flanders.
www.vsv.be -
Coalition for the Child Norm (member and lead of the Communication Working Group)
The Child Norm calls for integrating the perspective of children and young people into mobility policy. It encourages policymakers and mobility stakeholders to actively assess how planning, development, implementation, and evaluation of mobility policies and infrastructure affect children’s daily experiences and movements — supporting better, child-centered decision-making.
www.mobiel21.be -
Experts Panel of Fietsberaad Flanders (member)
The experts panel identifies knowledge needs and priorities, advises on translating insights into policy actions and research agendas, and reflects on project definitions. It also shares relevant expertise with stakeholders across sectors.
fietsberaad.be -
FietsDNA (advisory board)
FietsDNA is a large-scale survey by Fietsberaad Flanders addressing four themes: cycling infrastructure, cycling safety, cycling culture, and the link between cycling and public transport. In 2022, a representative sample of 3,000 Flemish residents participated in the third edition, sharing their opinions and expectations regarding cycling policy. www.vlaanderen.be -
Masterplan Fiets (stakeholder group)
The Masterplan Fiets outlines measures within the cycling policy of the Flemish Department of Mobility and Public Works (MOW), in collaboration with other policy domains. The aim is to create a comprehensive and widely supported cycling policy for Flanders — recognizing cycling not only as a mode of transport but also as a form of sport, leisure, and cultural identity. -
Flemish Road Safety Plan (stakeholder group)
The Flemish Road Safety Plan is a five-year action plan providing strategic direction for road safety policy in Flanders. It aims to further reduce traffic casualties and progress toward Vision Zero by 2050 — or preferably much sooner.
www.vlaanderen.be -
De Grote Sprong (“The Big Leap”) (advisory board member)
De Grote Sprong is an action programme by the organization Kind & Samenleving vzw, focusing on the transition of young people to secondary school and their increasing independence in mobility. The programme supports teenagers, parents, schools, and municipalities in ensuring that this transition is as smooth, safe, and sustainable as possible. k-s.be -
Inspiration Group on Traffic and Mobility Education (participant)
An annual initiative by the Flemish Foundation for Traffic Knowledge (Vlaamse Stichting Verkeerskunde), this inspiration group brings together all providers of traffic and mobility education projects and materials to exchange insights and learn from one another’s initiatives.
Collaboration and Expertise
The Cycling Chair is open to sharing its expertise. This can be in the form of a partnership or by offering substantive expertise for a(n) (European) project. Donations to the Chair are also always welcome.
For questions in this context, please contact Joyce David, scientific staff member.
Cycling Chair in the Spotlight
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VRT News: American Expert in Sustainable Mobility Becomes First Cycling Professor of Flanders
www.vrt.be -
De Standaard: Meredith Glaser Becomes Flanders' First Cycling Professor:
"A child getting hit by a truck is not an accident, but the result of a system"
www.standaard.be -
Listen: Radio 1: Belgium Has Its First Cycling Professor
radio1.be -
De Morgen: Flanders Now Also Has Its Own Cycling Professor:
'Cycling is About Much More Than Transportation; It Could Transform Society'
www.demorgen.be -
MO: Advisors for a Livable Society: #3 Cycling Professor Meredith Glaser (UGent)
'When It Comes to Mobility, We Are Collectively Bewildered'
www.mo.be
What’s new?
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"Determinanten van fietsgebruik: een geïntegreerd ecologisch perspectief"
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De stem van het kind in de publieke ruimte: analyse "droomstraat" tekeningen Stad Oostende
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Seminar Cycle Researchers: "Where can the bicycle take us?"
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Seminar "Fietsonderzoek in Vlaanderen" (3 April 2025)
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26/11/2024
Inauguration Flemish Cycling Professor Meredith Glaser
Watch the recorded livestream.
Stay tuned
Would you like to be kept informed about the activities of the Cycling Chair?
- Leave your email adress
- ... or send an email to Joyce David.
Contact
Joyce David, scientific staff member Cycling Chair
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Prof. Frank Witlox, promotor Cycling Chair
