A creative company has recently installed a new solar-powered, glow-in-the-dark bicycle path in Poland. The luminous path is made from a synthetic material which contains blue luminophores, which soaks up the sun rays all day, and gives off light for up to ten hours after that.
TPA Institute Badań Technicznych created the path as a measure to prevent bicycle and pedestrian accidents at night. An earlier solar-powered bike path in the Netherlands first inspired the project; however, where the Netherlands’ bike path used solar powered LED lights, this new one requires no external power source.
Its creators say the material is capable of emitting a wide range of colors, but they chose blue to remain harmonious with its surroundings.
“The glow is a very nice complement to the area’s beautiful nature, lakes, small hills and countryside,” said Mr. Igor Ruttmar, president of TPA.
This bicycle path is not only visually harmonious with nature. The engineers at TPA also researched into the sustainability of the materials used, and how to make them as cost effective as possible. They wanted to ensure the new bike lanes wouldn’t cost more than traditional bike paths to install.
Riding a bicycle to get around town was already one of the most eco friendly and healthy modes of transport. With this new, ingenious and eco friendly solution to the dangers of riding at night, it gets even better. The short, 100-meter strip was installed as a test section, but fingers crossed, it could spread to other towns in Poland and to other countries in the near future.
