China has a penchant for building extremely bold structures. The world's longest bridge in Zhangjiajie , for example, or the proposed disappearing bridges in the famed Wulingyuan region . Now, however, the Chinese have rolled out a new experiment meant to help cyclists enjoy a greener and easier daily commute. The city of Xiamen began trial use of its new elevated “cycleway,” a bicycle-only pathway connecting five of the city’s residential areas and three business districts. The serpentine route at times rises 16 feet above the car-packed streets below, allowing cyclists to avoid congestion on their commutes while also helping residents embrace a more eco-friendly lifestyle.
Built as a test case by Xiamen City Public Bicycle Management, the nearly five-mile-long cycleway can accommodate over 2,000 cyclists at any given time. Sensors will monitor capacity, and smart gates will close if the cycleway becomes too crowded. Riders can pedal along at speeds up to 15 m.p.h. from 6:30 a to 10:30 with 30,000 lights along the path to make the evening ride safer. And the 11 exits are conveniently positioned to provide easy access to major bus stops and subway stations; coordinating the route with public transportation allows more people to take advantage of this green alternative and helps keep cycling commute times comparable to driving times.
If the trial run proves successful, similar cycleways may become part of China’s future. For now, it's only the commuters in Xiamen who can enjoy the exercise and environmentally friendly commutes throughout their city.
