xx Cycling. BELGIUM.

to suit the wishes of the travellers, while others (livrets circulaires
a itinéraire fixe; available for 2-15 days) are fixed by the railway
company (to Waterloo, the Ardennes, sea-bathing resorts, etc. ).

Inggage must be booked and paid for separately, but on most of
the international through-routes 56lbs. are free. On the Belgian State
Railways the charge is 6 c. per 100 kilogrammes per kilométre, with
a minimum of 50 c.; fractions of 10 kilogrammes are treated as 10. The
traveller is therefore recommended to restrict his requirements if pos-
sible to the limits of a travelling-bag or moderate valise, which when
necessary he can wield unaided, and take with him into the railway-
carriage, 80 as to avoid the delay and expense incurred in booking it for
the luggage-van. Trunks should be at the office at least 1/, hr. before
the train starts. The luggage-offices are closed 3 min. before the hour
of departure. For carrying luggage to or from the cab, it is customary
to give the porter a fee of 20-5Uc. Luggage may be insured at a cha
of 10 c. per 100 fr. of the value. At most stations there is a left-luggage
office, where a charge of 10 c. per day is made for one or two packages
and 5 c. per day for each additional article. At Brussels, Antwerp, Liége,
Ghent, Ostend, Blankenberghe, and Nieuport the railway management under-
takes to forward luggage from the rail. station to the traveller's address
at ie au of 10 c. per 22 lbs., with a minimum of 50 c. (at night, 20 c.
& a)

There are Refreshment Rooms (Buffets-Restaurants) at a few of the
Belgian stations only. The Buvettes (Flem. Drankzaal) at some of the
smaller stations are very unpretending.

Licut Ratways (Chemins de Fer Vicinaux; Flem. Buurtspoor-
wege). Belgium possesses a wide-spread system of steam and electric
tramways, which serve not only the environs of the larger towns,
but also many of the remote country-districts. Only the more
important of these are mentioned in the Handbook.

 

 

IX. Cycling and Motoring.

Cycling is a popular amusement in Belgium, where cyclists are
admitted to practically all streets and roads. In many cases cinder-
paths (not open to motor-cycles) are provided for cyclists. A customs
duty of 12 per cent on the value is charged on motor-cars and cycles
entering Belgium accompanied by their owners, but the amount
is refunded on the production of the official receipt on leaving the
country. Members of the Touring Club de Belgique (sce p. xxi), or
of clubs affiliated with orrecognized by it, obtain duty-free admission
for their machines on conditions to be learned from the club-secre-
taries. Hach cycle in Belgium must be provided with a break, a
bell or horn, and a lamp. The maximum speed allowed in towns
or villages is 6 M. per hour, on country-roads 18 M. per hour. Eng-
lish riders and drivers should remember that the rule of the road in
Belgium is the reverse of that in England: keep to the right on
meeting, to the left on overtaking another vehicle.

Cyclists travelling by rail must procure a ticket for their ma-
chines at the luggage-office (between any two stations on the Bel-
gian State railways 70 ¢., to a foreign station 4 fr.). They must
personally assist in the loading and unloading of the cycles. No
luggage may be attached to the machine. Separate regulations are