SSS/FSM Faculté des sciences de la motricité (FSM)
SSH/IACS Institute for the Analysis of Change in Contemporary and Historical Societies (IACCHOS)
Biography |
I am Bas de Geus, an energetic and committed academic with over 20 years of experience in public health and the promotion of physical activity, focusing particularly on cycling as a means of transport and its positive effects on health. My career has been centred on advancing research in transport-related physical activity, examining the health benefits and risks of cycling, and contributing to sustainable mobility policy development both in Belgium and internationally. My work has positioned me as a recognized expert in this field across Europe, leading to involvement in key policy-making initiatives and collaborations with leading public health and transport organizations.
Currently, I hold a position as Senior Academic Staff at the Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), where I teach and conduct research on physical activity and health and mobility. Since joining UCLouvain in 2021, I have developed and taught courses for bachelor and master students, focusing on the foundations of physical activity and health, sport sociology, and the role of physical activity in society. Prior to this, I spent two decades at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), where I served as a lecturer and post-doctoral researcher, contributing to the Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy. It was here that I developed my research line on the health impacts of cycling for transport, exploring topics such as safety, air pollution, chronic diseases, and psychological factors influencing cycling habits.
Over the years, I have demonstrated a strong capacity for fundraising and securing research grants, raising funds from national and European programs, including FNRS/FWO, Innoviris, ARC (UCLouvain) and Erasmus+. Recently, I was awarded a significant grant under the Innoviris-PRB project, which will fund 2 PhD students and 2 part time post-docs for the next three years in collaboration with Mobilise and Cosmopolis (VUB). My leadership in research extends beyond individual projects, as I have coordinated interdisciplinary and international collaborations, notably leading research on cycling behaviour, health effects of cycling for transport, and the broader socio-cultural factors that influence transport choices. I am currently heading three international research projects, furthering my contributions to the growing body of knowledge on sustainable transport and public health.
Beyond my teaching and research, I have a deep commitment to PhD supervision and mentoring young researchers. I have successfully guided two PhD candidates to completion (VUB), continue to supervise six more, serving as both promotor and co-promotor and I’m member of the supervision committee of four more PhDs. In addition, I actively participate in academic governance at UCLouvain, contributing to program reform committees, faculty councils, and decision-making bodies.
A significant portion of my career has been dedicated to project management, overseeing research teams, providing consultancy services, and leading interdisciplinary initiatives. For example, I have provided expert consultancy in the field of occupational health for organizations such as bpost and ARISTA, offering insights to support decision-making on restructuring and distribution models.
My research has had a measurable impact on public policy, as I have been frequently invited to contribute to policy discussions and initiatives at various levels. This includes advisory roles for international organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO), the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and the European Cyclists’ Federation. On a national level, I have collaborated with agencies such as VIAS (the Belgian road safety institute) and have been consulted by local governments, including those in Brussels and Flanders, on transport and health policies.
In terms of academic output, I have authored an impressive 177 publications, including peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and conference presentations. With a h-index of 37 and over 7,300 citations, my research has been widely recognized and influential.
In terms of international experience, I have coordinated student exchange programs with Stellenbosch University in South Africa and have engaged in scientific collaborations across Europe, including research visits to Athens and Lyon. I have also been a guest lecturer at the University of Genoa and SOMT University of Physiotherapy in the Netherlands.
I hold a PhD in Physical Education and Movement Sciences from VUB, where I focused on the psychosocial and environmental factors influencing cycling to work. I also have multiple master’s degrees in Physical Education, Rehabilitation Sciences, and Sports Physiotherapy.
In the coming years I want to extend my knowledge and research experience into better understanding the social mechanisms that motivate or refrain people to cycle or take up cycling for transport purposes. I start this new journey based on Mobility Culture Theories. My affiliation to the UCLouvain GIRSEF – Transition research group opens opportunities to meet with colleagues from the social sciences.
Through my research, teaching, and activism, I remain deeply committed to promoting health, sustainability, and mobility, and I am always eager to take on new challenges in the pursuit of a healthier, more active world.
Réseaux sociaux
Unités d'enseignement pour 2025
| Libellé | Code |
|---|---|
| Dimension socio-historique et éthique des activités physiques et sportives | LEDPH1049 |
| De l'audace en sécurité à l'escalade et stage associé | LEDPH1052 |
| Introduction à l'activité physique et santé | LEPHY1108 |
| Hockey | LEPHY1253 |
| Formation en motricité 1 | LKNR1211 |
| Formation en motricité 2 | LKNR1212 |
Research axes
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Research projects - present
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5 representative publications
de Geus B, Ampe T, Van Cauwenberg J, Schepers P, Meeusen R
Odds of self-reported minor cycle crashes with conventional and electric assisted cycles adjusted for cycling frequency in Dutch and Belgian adults a retrospective study Accident Analysis and Prevention, 179, 2023, 106893
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2022.106893
Aime A, Ampe T, Stas L, Philippot P, Useche SA, Meeusen R, de Geus B.
Effects of individual characteristics on risky cycling behaviour, mediated by cycling anger experience and expression among Brussels and Flemish adult cyclists: Testing a mediated model Transportation Research Part F, 99, 2023, 319–338
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trf.2023.10.017
Useche S, Philippot P, Ampe T, Llamazares J, de Geus B.
“Pédaler en toute sécurité”: the Cycling Behavior Questionnaire (CBQ) in Belgium – a validation study Transport Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour: 80, 2021, 260-274
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trf.2021.04.014
- Brevers, D., Martinent, G., Oz, I. T., Desmedt, O. & de Geus, B. (2024)
Do error predictions of perceived exertion inform the level of running pleasure? Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology
https://doi.org/10.1037/spy0000362
- Lathouwers E, Dons E, Ampe T, Int Panis L, Verstraelen M, de Geus B
Respiratory ventilation and inhaled air pollution dose while riding with a conventional and an electric-assisted cycle along routes with different elevation profiles Journal of Transport & Health, 22, 2021, 101132