Belgian Minister of Security and Interior Pieter de Crem said he would not rule out setting a kilometer limit for cyclists and walkers amid the coronavirus outbreak. In an article published Thursday in Het Nieuwsblad (opens in new tab), de Kremm said a 50-kilometer rule could be enacted at the National Security Council on Friday.

The new limit has been discussed as a response to local police who have sought to introduce clear rules on the distance and time people can bike or walk.

"A 50-kilometer trip by bicycle is unfortunately no longer possible," Decrem said. 'If clarification is sought on that, it will be after the Security Council.'

In March, the Belgian government stepped up efforts to slow the spread of the virus by introducing public safety measures. In the professional cycling races, the E3 Binkbank, Ghent-Wevelgem, and Doire de Flenderen were cancelled. In addition, organizers of the Tour of Flanders announced that they had to cancel the event due to possible schedule changes later in the season.

De Crem said that the introduction of a 50 km limit would allow people to travel freely and continue their healthy activities.

"People have the right to go outside," he said.

"If they are only allowed within a one-kilometer radius, that would mean hundreds of people living in the same building in urban areas would have to congregate in close proximity. That is certainly not a good thing. There is also a psychological aspect. Thus, it becomes a veritable open-air prison life.

"Walking, running, cycling.... We encourage it, but now is not the time for a massive cycling trip. It might not be a problem if someone were to cycle alone, but if everyone did, they would be very busy. Moreover, this goes against the spirit of the measure, which is intended to shift down several gears of social life."

However, Decrem pointed out the importance of the 50-km limit requested by the police force to allow officers to better monitor the public during a coronavirus outbreak.

"We are facing a difficult 10 days. There is no longer room for indifference or flexibility. It is not only sports. Private parties are no longer tolerated. Just as it is no longer permissible to go abroad using small country roads. The time for fun is over.

"They [the police] are not immune to Covid-19 and may come into contact with people who are not familiar with the measures. Therefore, we take their comments seriously. If someone who has to monitor compliance with the measure needs to quantify the permitted movements, we take their comments very seriously."