Even China is getting on the bike wagon with a soaring new cycleway in Xiamen. The 4.7 mile-long bike path is 16 feet higher than the road at its tallest point, and allows for rapid, clean transportation through the city, connecting six public transportation centers. Over 2,000 bikes per hour can travel on the new aerial path.
Curbed reports the elevated bike lane is China’s first and the world’s longest. It is 16-feet-wide and includes both a pedestrian path and bike lane. Part of the path stretches beneath an elevated road utilized by rapid transit buses, which now serves the double purpose of keeping bikers dry in the rain. 30,000 lights adorn the cycleway so people can ride safely at night. There are 11 entries, which provide access to two subway stations and 11 bus stations.
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The aerial bike lane provides a green transportation alternative for people in three business areas and five major residential areas, and is now open for a month-long trial. Locals already seem to enjoy it. One resident, Chen Yimin, told Xinhua the commute from home to work on the bike path only took 10 minutes, which is the same amount of time it would take to drive. Another local, Wu Xueying, said at first the height was intimidating but the guardrails made biking high above city streets feel safe.
Xiamen City Public Bicycle Management said during the trial period, the bike lane will be open from 6:30 AM till 10:30 PM for private and public bicycles. When finished, it will be equipped with on-ramp gates that will shutter if the cycleway is too full.
Xueying told Xinhua, “It’s nice to ride a bicycle under the blue sky in the sunshine.”
Images via screenshot
