Brussels Express - Bike Messengers Documentary

A documentary about bike messengers in Brussels, the most congested city in Europe with only 4% cycling traffic.
Directed, shot & edited by Sander Vandenbroucke
2nd camera: David Doom
Music: Mathieu Vandekerckhove
Translations: Thierry Eeckhout
brusselsexpress...
/ brusselsexpressfilm

[@ceejayondecks]

I started a messenger company in SOUTH AFRICA : Your Documentary Really Is BEAUTIFUL ! GOD BLESS YALL

[@shantanushejul1828]

Can you guide me how did you started it??

[@DMWBN3]

How's it going for you chap? Good luck.

[@DMWBN3]

Shantanu Shejul hope he replies to his business emails quicker 😁

[@prabhutheartist833]

Amazing documentary! I ride a bike everyday to work in Singapore and people think its like kind of a hobby not realizing that it could be an excellent means of transportation.

[@GrandTourVideos]

I am a bike commuter here in Houston, Texas. A city that is known for its heavy car dependency and minimal bike infrastructure. I get honked at daily and drivers could care less about me. I won't stop cycling though, out of hope that maybe I'll inspire others to do the same. And maybe one day my city will change.

[@yashdeepsahu849]

the last dialogue took my heart "We are the traffic".

[@Flalalalanx]

Very simple yet very true.

Really nice documentary! I live in Rio de Janeiro, and cycling here is just insane. But there is also a bike culture growing up here day by day, even though there's no infrastructure for bikes. We, cyclists, must take the streets with our bikes and show everybody that we exist!

[@joaodantas9259]

você precisa vir pedalar em recife pra ver a loucura que é hahaha, coisa de louco, todo dia chego em casa pilhado

[@icaroharry8465]

em BH ta rolando também! com ciclovia ou sem ciclovia, bora ocupar essas ruas!

[@iurypiva8371]

Pois, eu vivo em uma cidade pequena (220 mil habitantes) em que o trânsito é um caos e as vezes sinto que sou o único tentando mostrar que os ciclistas existem!

[@rodrigosouto9502]

Moro em Brasília, cidade concebida do zero com foco em carros. Ir de bicicleta domingo pro clube que fica a apenas 6km é assustador em diversas partes. Imagino no RJ.... As concordo que é necessário aparecer, ser notado. Senão isso nunca mudará.

[@smokeinc9800]

i live in the philippines work]ng in food panda im scared everyday but i have this sense now like im spiderman hahahaha.

[@leotard2536]

Huge respect for this guy. City biking is so hard. I used to bike in Los Angeles, but I got in a crash and had to stop. Be careful, man.

[@syiridium703]

This is the best documentary and a movie about cycling couriers and the issue of transportation by bike I've every seen! None of the "you ride a fixed gear bike and gain precognition skills" nonsense. This is a nice down to earth movie about the real issues and solutions. Excellent job!

[@topherpie]

I ride my fixed around Cambridge, UK. It's truly a blessing being able to just slip through the traffic and the feeling of dodging and weaving is unmatched. I persoanlly ride brakeless, Its got me in some sticky situations sometimes but theres something so attractive about the raw connectivity to the drivetrain, It's addictive. Keep riding fellas, respect.

[@randomoto928]

It's amazing how much Brussels has improved in the last 10 years or so since this documentary was made. It's been slow progress and there's a long way to go, but I think the seed has been planted and the future of the city is bright.

[@blanco7726]

Wow things have changed, I worked 6 months on my bike in Brussels this year and I can say bikes are respected, there are good paths on most arteries and ring roads, enough signage on every other road and I only got into one crash, which as far as I can remember was the only time I got even close to an accident. Of course I had an electric bike, so less conflict due to quick acceleration. This was the reason I got into this crash, because I came up on this car from the right, moving faster, just before he decided to abruptly turn into a gas station presumably to skip the red light. Still many main roads to improve though, as many arterials rely on bus+bike lane which is annoying in rush hour. And main roads like Chaussée de Gand or Ch. de Mons or Ch. de Ninove are hopeless. All there is, is painted bike symbols every 20 meters with double parked cars at every convenience store or snack shop.

[@petetube99]

I was going to ask how things are now, 10 years later. Thanks.

[@Mehdi-rf2sv]

Le reportage date de presque 10 ans, c’est clair qu’aujourd’hui le vélo est de plus en plus roi, mais avant ça ne l’était pas.

[@djtetto]

Very nice documentary. Thumbs up for you guys.

[@pablojavieenriquez]

we are all traffic!! interesting... good documentary cheers!! saludos from Argentina.

[@Barbarian_Bishop]

loved the documentary, I live in Holland here we are getting a lot better at getting on your bike to go to school or work.

[@lorenzonavarini65]

Good job guys! This documentary is really interesting, we have the same problem in Italy.

[@Celtichunter7]

I think almost every european cities has, europe is realy old and hasn't a smart/updated infrastructure. A total city update would awesome to those cities, but it will cost tons of money. =(

[@zajac9334]

In poland the same problem like in Warsaw what's too the most congested like Brussels.

[@stankyst4nk39]

This is my favorite short documentary film I have seen to date! Great work!

[@MichaelRobinson-qi2oy]

Excellent documentary.

[@EKcyclist]

That was a fascinating film. I live just outside Glasgow and, whilst we have taken some positive steps to promote cycling, we lag very far behind our sister city of Edinburgh in terms of infrastructure. However, I had naively assumed that all of Belgium was like the Netherlands when it came to cycling access in towns and cities. We have to do much, much more in Europe to make cycling an everyday activity.

[@calcradden6293]

Belgium's a weird one because it's the home of competitive cycling, it produces the most pro cyclists per capita but the Belgian riders all have the reputation of being tough as hell because they ride in the winter with cyclo-cross and on cobbled streets, crazy steep hills etc... So they don't really care about making cycling accessible to most people

[@EKcyclist]

@@calcradden6293 strangely enough, I’m reading “The Beast, The Emperor and The Milkman” by Harry Pearson. All about Flemish cycling, and you are 100% spot on with your description, buddy! 👍👍

[@davidvaldez5663]

thanks ...very nice documentary......

[@wOhst]

Thank you for this great documentary. Sounds like Brussels has the same problems as many other big cities like Berlin. I'll share it right away!

[@rashidabegum194]

Now if you have a bicycle, you are the king of the street. Covid really changed everything.

[@officialdeanporter]

Great documentary, More like these please.

[@ArthurFellig]

Excellent video! Thanks for posting this!

[@jennifersharpe8605]

What an adventure --well done you guys

[@ov0]

awesome folks! cheers from São Paulo, Brazil!

[@maxyakov273]

Oh, yes! I forgot to mention that this is a great documentary, Thanks for publishing!

[@adamsjoberrg]

Im lucky to live in Sweden where biking is highly encouraged. I would say most people my age (24 yrs) don't even have a car if you live in a city/town with plus 20,000 people.

[@user-nq9gz4xf7f]

Bravo, a great film, inspirant!

[@tumbuktunian]

In Santiago of Chile ( ~6 million inhabitants) while traffic is still a problem you can easily see how fast it is becoming a bycicle city. It was funny the day when taxi drivers made a strike against Uber that it was paradise to ride, streets were almost empty and I got near half of the time that usually took me to my work place

[@danielrepoyo]

Aguante la cultura cletera en santiago, ojala cada vez haya mas gente haciendo bicycle commuting

[@shoaibmk8578]

Beautiful Documentary !! 👍🏼👏🏼👏🏼 !! Bravo

[@HeyJoeHUN81-PCRPGCommunity]

I live & ride in Liverpool (UK) everyday & sadly I have to agree with every issues what was related with the traffic light system & roads & motorised drivers in this video. And before someone ask me: Yes, I have car as well btw, but I like to use only when I have to buy some really big &/or heavy thing or when I have to go really far (50+ km), out of the city & the time is matter.

[@olafetor5918]

in Uk the same problem ride a bikes in the big town like Brussels,Warsaw ? doesn't have bike path,a many riders . only the cycling a good infrastructure for a bike in German towns and all in the netherlands when I was there and saw

[@SantoRedentor]

At 4:19, when explaining why we are faster than autos, he also forgot to add "because we violate every traffic rule there is". Trust me, I'm a messenger. I am not particularly proud of doing it but if you want to deliver all the stuff on time, there is no other way. It does not matter if you ride super fast or if you know the city very well if you then get stuck 5 min in a busy traffic light.

[@marcbuchel4873]

In the case of an experienced messenger, there are so many traffic rules that are just completely pointless. At the point when you got to know the city you're working in you know the flow of the traffic, you know the changing cycles of every single traffic light, you know where there are pedestrian stripes and as so as you see one of them on those you know there is a window for you to pass, ... There are countless more of these examples. At some point, when talking with "non-messengers" (let's call them like this) it's interesting that they see traffic and it's rules as a constant. But that it isn't. It's a living organism on the move (ffs ... I'm getting philosophical ... I better stop now).

[@maxyakov273]

I bicycle in Bangkok, a city that has similar problems to Brussels. I never go through a red light, although I will do other things to circumvent the lights. I'm never in a big hurry like the messengers. Safety has priority over travel-time with me. However, I know that a lot of transit time is saved by going around gridlock by resorting to lane splitting and resorting to the sidewalks. I think the messengers should reconsider running red lights. It can be quite dangerous to save the valuable delivery minutes and gives the messengers a bad reputation.

[@AlessandroCardano]

Agree. I live in Guadalajara México, blessed to ride daily, having more bike lanes available in the city and also back streets with virtually no traffic lights and very very few cars compared to main roads. Not proud of "responsibly & safely" crossing red lights either, but proud to arrive faster than cars and public transport, really proud of not polluting, not contributing to more traffic and really REALLY proud of being part of the change I wanna see for a cleaner, healthier world. -A

[@sb7130]

Well me to But then you do Somting wrong or you dispo is doing a bad job

[@blanco7726]

Delivered around Brussels for 6 months, I know for every traffic light cycle in centraal when it is safe to run and when it is better to just wait.

[@danielcaunin1381]

Salute to you guys!

[@TheRoosevelt89]

Excellent documentary guys! Interesting, we have the same problem in Ecuador.

[@CataM8]

I live in Bucharest, Romania. Same problem.

[@adamdonovan5633]

Wow!! Fantastic doc, guys! What a problem there...stuff like this should make a difference.

[@2ndbaritone]

Lovely documentary

[@cschmi9624]

anyone that rides a fixie in Europe has my respect.

[@joaodantas9259]

great documentary

[@AMADYTB]

purée ça fait bizarre de voir Bruxelles de l'époque

[@karldelvalle6158]

Excelente reportaje. Felicidades.

[@ra5052]

Very nice documentàry!

[@Thomass7586]

This is everywhere you want to ride your bike. Why 1 person needs 3 to 4000 lb,s wrapped around them to go down the road a mile is insane and just Lazy. Ride Safe an Ride Often 🚴

[@shreddersaurusrex323]

Some ppl can’t ride to work because there’s no shower and it’s frowned upon to come in sweaty.

[@kris4645]

Absolutely! Greetings from the everyday bike abuser from Croatia! 🤣☺️

[@michaelcottbus7782]

@@shreddersaurusrex323 that's why we invented e-bikes.

[@beekaynimaruichi]

Atleast you don't have to worry about car theft, they won't be getting far any time soon.

[@granderondeproductions3286]

Bikes still get stolen, so I always ride with a lock. Imagine that, leaving an unlocked bike in Kyoto or Shibuya.

[@LaPetiteMort_]

Great work! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@jayeshsoniIAS]

thanks for this

[@corpeno]

excelente documental

[@LG17Tube]

This is more about cycling in Brussels than a story about messengers.

[@adrianherrera9130]

That's actualy what the messengers do . Basicaly cycling from poitn A to point B

[@cccEngineer]

Bring them over to NYC.

[@ThisisBrownfield]

To much cars in NYC too.

[@joachimmacdonald2702]

NYC’s probably got more messengers than any wester city lol

[@leejones3115]

People care about money and status. We don't care about the planet or each other. I really like how they offered solutions to the problem at the end instead of sensationalizing the topic like I just did in the beginning of this comment.

[@antoniobotello4996]

I live in LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA I have seen busy streets, AVENUES and BOULEVARDS that has increased a lot over the last 35 years. These people uses their cars for multiple reasons, but when it comes to bicycles for commuting that hasn't popped into their heads even there's public transportation, but the chances are very slim due to over crowded busses or subways or some times busses will pass by you even you have been waiting for 30 minutes and as soon as I be able to walk again, I will start riding my bicycle for commuting purpose an everything else can wait.

[@RawCultureChannel]

Orlando, Florida is like this too. Everything is spread out here and the humidity is killer so most people prefer driving a car. most drivers have no regard for cyclist safety, which sucks, and a lot of the bike paths end abruptly on busy streets which is really fuckin stupid

[@BobAzarcon]

All over the world people with cars complain about traffic without realising that they are the cause of traffic.

[@mithuharjani3620]

Excelent vídeo 😊👍⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@zezuntxiduntxi]

This is necessary!

[@maxyakov273]

Brussels, like Bangkok, has the MOTOR VEHICLE DISEASE. Bangkok has a serious motorbike/cycle variation of it.

[@jcdes]

things have changed a lot since then

[@marcvanderwee]

I think the Brussels councils should hire a group of Danish and Dutch bike traffic specialists to give a good advice to improve the bike infrastructure. Both the Danes and the Dutch have an excellent cycle culture... It will take some time, but I think Brussels, and other Belgian cities with a flat landscape, like Antwerp or Gent have the opportunity to become a cycle city like København (Copenhagen) or Amsterdam. Sadly just in the nation with the largest number of sport cycle classics like the Flanders Tour (Ronde van Vlaanderen) or Liege-Bastogne-Liege there are relatively little 'regular' cyclists... Ik denk dat de Brusselse deelgemeenten er goed aan doen een groep Deense en Nederlandse deskundigen voor fietsinfra in te huren, om een goed advies te geven om de fietsinfra te verbeteren. Denemarken en Nederland hebben een uitstekende fietscultuur. Het kost wat tijd, maar ik denk dat Brussel en andere Belgische steden met een vlak landschap, zoals Antwerpen en Gent de mogelijkheid hebben om een fietsstad zoals København (Kopenhagen) of Amsterdam te worden. Jammer dat in het land met de meeste wielerklassiekers, zoals de Ronde van Vlaanderen en Luik-Bastenaken-Luik, er relatief gezien zo weinig 'gewone' fietsers zijn...

[@VictorHugo-yj1zl]

We have the same problem in my city. I felt really understood by the film, because I have the exact same thoughts every time I dare to go out on the bike. And here too, more and more, people are using it on daily basis.

[@malcolmhales8181]

Good one

[@FordmaSports]

Great video. Like and share~

[@tellegenx2344]

Hi guys, what is the name of the last song? It doesn't seem to be Syndrome (Mathieu VDKH) nor Sdeah. Thanks & Great documentary!

[@ThisisBrownfield]

Come to Netherlands

[@rayrayarmstrong8701]

How about some love for Karl's bike! That bike is nice man

[@benjaminniem8605]

Respect!!👏👏👍👍. Vous embauchez en ce moment? Less cars more cyclists= better for the future generation, and planet Earth!!!!!

[@mikemejia2304]

Does anybody know what kind of frame the guy has!?

[@dmitriysintsov8348]

One should not ride so fast in the left lane due to risk of dooring. These parked car drivers sometimes open their doors quickly and unexpectedly. At lower speed one has a chance to react.

[@zajac9334]

I live in Warsaw Poland and here is the same problem only cycling Traffic 6 % but only Summer/spring Warsaw is too the most congested city in Europe

[@Herman47]

*These Belgian bike messengers are the fastest I've seen!*

[@GermanGameAdviser]

can we find out what parts hes using on his bike? hubs etc. would appreciate it!

[@AFlivetoday]

REAL STREET LIFE

[@abstractbio]

To be honest this looks like heaven compared to what is like riding a bike in Mexico City. At least they got beautiful sweet soft roads. Traffic jams doesn't even look that much horrible. Add insecurity, the social stigma of riding a bike, pollution and high altitude.

[@yanni5496]

Hi, what Bag brand is that you are using? Thanks.

[@labradog05]

tell me when you find out ok

[@ronaldrt]

The bike featured in this documentary a Cinelli Mash, if so, I'm wondering how does one brake on these bikes when it appears that they have no braking mechanism?

[@CataM8]

fixed gear bike

[@Elformatofisico]

En un mundo lleno de automóviles, usar la bicicleta es ir contra el sistema. ❤ Entusiasmo por la bicicleta.

[@Sagouain]

Luckily things are changing in Brussels, at a slow pace, but changing.

[@eliasmiguel8711]

Legendado em português, por favor

[@brukanbrugner6978]

There is no way to be a more congested city than Bucharest. Just have a look at some videos with traffic jams in Bucharest.

[@Celtichunter7]

Belgium is such a car based country :( Cities in general need to be beter organised: Work close to home and shop.

[@DMWBN3]

Ilias de Jager didn't know its ranked as the most congested. I used to live in Europe,...... but as I'm English, not any more 🤷🏻‍♂️😁

[@The_Cat666]

Very good example of reckless riding 👍

[@taraskaminskyi157]

Hi! Does anyone knows the name of the composition starting from 17:30 to 18:00?

[@original12310]

I finally found a city worst than Marseille for cyclists ahah thank you guys for the doc

[@motombocolombo]

a messenger bag!? or do you mean the brand and model?

[@Mr76K1976]

What brand of bike is karl riding, maker and model, anyone know??

[@thatguyonabicycleofconsurv3908]

I wish this was an English this is a very good video it just that I can't understand it

[@Agafya101]

What bag is he using?

[@albin2232]

The best thing about Brussels is the Sprouts. I love 'em.

[@Tulbia]

I wonder which other European cities are like that?

[@bikemaurice1953]

Fascinante o-o !_!

[@juanittasuarez268]

Wich camera was used to shoot this? Somebody?

[@itsjustpizza]

Eddy Merckx carbon track bike?! Wow!

[@ronaldrt]

Yug in this documentary?☺

[@dmcreaper1173]

What's the name of the outtro song ?

[@luchigut]

Really nice documentaries.this place really looks as 🇵🇦.the worse traffic in all the 🌎. But the people here think is better loose 4 hours in a traffic jam than buy a bicycle

[@giofr2982]

Really nice documentary, but I do think the problem is a bit exaggerated in the film, I cycle everyday in Brussels and it it is not as bad as they show, it's about choosing your itineraries right. But it wouldn't be a very interesting documentary if it was about Brussels being average for cyclists.... But thumbs up for the beautiful images!!!!

[@SpaceTvRadio1]

So can anyone tell me, what frame and fork karl is riding, and potentially what hubs and crank arms?

[@neapohl]

Charles Kent Miche parts, Orbea dude frame

[@junction666]

karl-heinz pohl Which courier bag do you use Karl?

[@neapohl]

Pac Designs

[@virajshinde2248]

The ending music?

[@kuzan5190]

anyone know what kind of drop the Karl dude has? or maybe something similar, looking for a deep drop.

[@kuzan5190]

***** They have a deeper curve than the drops I've seen or had. It doesn't have to be the exact ones as just something similar.

[@82vitt]

Ibrahim Osman Deda Pista.

[@MrPaynePhysics]

I was going to ask the same thing, what brand bag is that? I've been looking for a messenger bag that also has the secondary strap to keep it more stable whilst riding

[@kydryo777]

A lot of messenger bags meant for riding have that stabilizer strap. Dunno where you're from, but if you're in the city, maybe check out your local shops that make messenger bags for bike messengers. They make bags meant for riding, and not just for fashion.

[@superpelic]

Check out chrome bags

[@MrPaynePhysics]

Should have specified. From England. Bike messengers aren't common here. Brands like Chrome are bloody expensive because they have to be imported :/

[@kydryo777]

Adam Payne Well, one brand I recommend is Ynot .. they're handmade here in Toronto, Canada. I have a Chrome bag and a Ynot bag, and the Ynot bag is much more comfortable. Sure the Chrome bag looks nice, but when you're on your bike 8 hours a day, comfort + function first. Check them out... ynotcycle.com

[@kagura222]

Adam Payne Its a PAC bag, which are also made in Toronto.

[@MichalKos9]

TOP INTRO IN HOLLYWOOD STYLE

[@boulderguy2047]

Do one of you very nice guys and girls in the comments who say they are also messangers have a clue of which bag he is using? im riding my bik every day since i am 5 and now wanne start working as a messanger as a partimejob after school. i was searching for specific bags but his one looks very practical with the vellphone hope and the as ist look triangular mounting

[@klokke86]

its Pac design but unfortunaltely the company does not exist anymore