Pop-up cycle lanes add safer bike routes to any road

Copenhagenize Flow is a system of modular tiles that enables bike riders to establish a flat cycle lane surface anywhere, on the fly.

Although painted bicycle lanes are meant to be designated safe areas for cyclists, they can often be full of potholes and ignored by motorists. Hoping to change this, Copenhagenize Flow is a system of modular tiles that enables bike riders to establish a flat cycle lane surface anywhere, on the fly.

The 40cm x 40cm x 4.5cm blocks are made out of recycled wood and plastic and can lock together to form larger structures. The idea behind Copenhagenize Flow is that cities can quickly and cheaply add cycle infrastructure to their roads by employing teams to lay down the tracks in suitable locations. According to the designers, a small team can establish a 1km cycle lane in a day, meaning that the routes can be both installed and packed away rapidly in case of temporary requirements. However, the lanes also offer a long-term solution, providing traction designed for bike tyres, covering defects in the road, and offering a more visible and physical separation between cyclists and other road traffic.

The project is offering the tiles to local authorities based on their individual needs and budgets, but its creators say that every kilometer cycled in cities gains a EUR 0.23 net gain for the community, compared to the EUR 0.16 loss for every kilometer traveled by car. Are there other ways for governments to encourage cycling while also maintaining the safety of riders?

Spotted by Murray Orange, written by Springwise