The measure was extremely rare in Europe and controversial in the country of Eddy Merckx: the Brussels authorities finally gave up on Friday to impose the wearing of masks on cyclists in the Belgian capital to fight against the coronavirus.
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It was one of the most controversial aspects of the new tightening of anti-Covid measures announced on Wednesday. The government of the Brussels-Capital region had decided not to make any difference between public road users by making it compulsory throughout its territory to wear a mask, against the backdrop of the resurgence of the pandemic in a country where it has caused nearly 10,000 dead.
" Cycling is not considered to be a sport "
" Cycling is not considered to be a sport, " said the head of the regional executive Rudi Vervoort, denying cyclists a valid exception, for example for joggers.
He finally backtracked on Friday evening, assuring in a statement that he had heard " the many grievances " expressed on the side of the followers of the little queen in Brussels. Even if everyone should have one at hand, " wearing a mask is not compulsory for cyclists and scooter users when they are traveling on public roads and social distances can be respected ", a he announced.
Clearly, the mask must be put back on in all situations where distances cannot be maintained with pedestrians, on a pedestrian path or when stopping at a red light in a busy area.
See also - "Ridiculous", "reasonable": reactions in Brussels where wearing a mask is compulsory
