Cyclist left with two broken jaws and eye damage after attack by motorist in Schaerbeek

A cyclist was attacked by a motorist on rue Royale-Sainte-Marie in Schaerbeek, Brussels, on 14 October 2026 at around 18:45, according to La DH. The attacker has been arrested and placed under electronic monitoring.

The cyclist had been ringing his bell because cars were blocking the cycle lane. The motorist shouted at him at a red light, and the cyclist replied. At the next red light, the motorist got out of his car.

The cyclist says he no longer remembers the attack itself and was told what happened by police. He was reportedly pushed off his bike and beaten, with about ten blows.

Serious injuries

He suffered two fractured jaws, bruising and a badly damaged eye, and has had two operations. He has no guarantee of regaining use of the eye, although there is a very slight chance that his sight will partly recover over time. "My vision will never be the same again," he said.

Doctors told him the brain adapts quickly to vision in one eye. He is a graphic designer and was initially worried about his job, but says he is coping. He will need time to adapt, especially when walking in the street, because he has difficulty judging distances.

Calls for change

The cyclist denounces what he describes as a real culture of hatred toward cyclists in Brussels, notably in Schaerbeek and Anderlecht. He says almost all of his cyclist friends have already been attacked, and that those who protest face consequences.

He acknowledges that some cyclists do not respect the traffic code and that many meal delivery cyclists speed through the city. However, he says the dangers cyclists face are totally disproportionate to such misconduct.