Belgian transport company De Lijn plans to build 'bicycle-safe' tram tracks by the end of the year, Belga News Agency reports.
The decision follows a series of recent studies by Ghent University, which examined the possibility of constructing tram tracks from rubbery, compressible material which prevents bicycle wheels from getting caught but is able to withstand the weight of a tram and allow for water drainage.
Research on the project is ongoing, with researchers looking at how the material reacts under a range of different conditions.
According to De Lijn spokesperson Frederik Wittock, researchers are currently investigating practicalities such as how the substance changes as the temperature changes and whether it will bring a significant safety improvement.
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On Wednesday, a 44-year-old cyclist died after falling on tram tracks near the centre of Ghent. Roughly 500 bicycle accidents involving tram tracks take place in the Belgian city every year: a quarter of all the city's bike accidents.
