The idea of living in a more environmentally friendly city is perhaps the brightest utopia for those concerned about the planet. Carbon emissions at this stage of modernity are truly worrisome. For this reason, some countries around the world are betting on encouraging their inhabitants to travel by bicycle and have adapted their cities with the most spectacular cycle paths.
Bicycles as a means of transportation are the key to reducing the hateful pollution that is killing everything. In addition, with the advent of electric bikes and skateboards, little by little the cycling culture is gaining more strength.
With this, governments are forced to generate safe routes to transport on wheels. Some of the results are surprising; there are already cycle lanes they have left behind the traditional lane dedicated to cyclists and they have taken it to the next level; adapt the city to them.
Cities in the world with the most bike lanes
Cuyperspassage, Amsterdam
Under the main station in Amsterdam there is one of the simplest, but at the same time modern, crossings for cyclists and pedestrians.
built by Benthem Crouwel Architectsthis cycle path is a tunnel with a dual image. On the one hand, it is covered by nearly 80,000 white and blue tiles that generate lighting by reflection, and also make up a work of art. On the other side is the bike path, with a slightly rougher texture but quite illuminated.
With a length of 110 meters, by 10 wide and 3 high, its function is to unite the central part of the city with the exit to the IJ river. This cycle path is used by about 15,000 people a day.
Bicycle Snake, Copenhagen
Located in Copenhagen, Denmark, where More than 50% of the population travels by bicycle. It is a bridge for cyclists, located 7 meters high and has a length of 220 meters. Like the Cuyperspassage, it is a hybrid for pedestrians and cyclists and was built to solve the problem of access to the Fisketorvet shopping center.
8 House, Copenhagen
More than just a bike path, this is actually a large mixed-use development. What is this? It is a house that combines different purposes such as residential, offices, hotels, shopping centers and community places, all in the same space. And yes, it also has its own cycle path, more or less. You can park your bike outside your apartment and leave the complex, just pedaling. Even, you can tour the entire space using your bike without any problem.
Designed by Bjarke Ingelshas an area of 61,000 square meters. Its main characteristic, and from which it takes its name, is that it is shaped like an eight. In addition to its super structure, it incorporates a conscious and visual identity of the green roof.
Hovenring Bridge, Netherlands
This cycle path is one of the most amazing in the world, it marks the entrance to the cities Eindhoven and Veldhoven. It’s a ring suspended from a 70 meter high tower, supported by 24 steel cables. It presents an innovative solution to the problem of increased traffic at the junctions of two highways and ensures the safety of cyclists and pedestrians.
Shimanami Kaido, Japan
One of the most beautiful cycle paths in the world for its views of nature, it connects the cities of Onomichi and Imabara. The route is very popular among cyclists, with a total of 70 kilometers of route with incredible views.
It runs next to the car track, although at times it is lost to access the destinations. The road connects several local islands, so it crosses over the sea in some sections.
Te Ara I Whiti, Auckland
The Nordic countries are not the only ones that have cycle paths, in Oceania we also find some. One of the most recognized for its magenta color is found in Auckland, New Zealand.
Te Ara I Whiti, is a 600-meter journey that tells us about the identity of its people with a magenta-colored floor, it also illustrates the journey with maori culture drawings in some areas. Its true attraction is to walk it at night: The road It is illuminated by 300 fully programmable LED devices.
Hechtel Bridge, Eksel
It’s a circle 100 meters in diameter and 700 meters in length. Located in the forests of Belgium. This is the first circular lane in the middle of a forest for cyclists to connect with something other than the city. The Hechtel Bridge is a structure that integrates and blends with the natural space, simply a beauty.
Van Gogh Pat, Brabant
Eindhoven is a special place, it was the place where Vincent Van Gogh lived from 1883 to 1885. To pay homage to this great painter, Daan Roosegaarde created a bike path inspired by «The starry Night», Van Gogh’s most representative work.
The starry road, is located in Brabant, has 1 kilometer in length And it glows in the dark. Roosegaarde managed to introduce LED technology into the environment, a magical space where nature, technology, art and human beings coexist.
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