Solar-powered glow in the dark bike path improves safety

A phosphorescent blue section of bike path in Lidzbark Warminski, Poland, is charged by the sun, and designers expect it to work for up to 20 years.

Polish materials tech company TPA Gesellschaft für Qualitätssicherung und Innovation (TPAQI) designed a new road surface material that glows in the dark. Needing 30 to 60 minutes of daylight to fully charge, the phosphorescent blue bike path is being trialled in Lidzbark Warminski, Poland.

The design team applied the new material to an existing bike path and expects it to work for up to 20 years. A strong glow is retained for up to eight hours following only minimal daylight. The company is observing the path’s durability before expanding its use elsewhere in the country.

As cycling continues to grow in popularity as a sustainable method of commuting, cities are adapting accordingly. Malmö has an apartment and hotel designed specifically for ease of cyclists. And although New York City has designated bike lanes, cyclists are taking to crowdsourcing their frustration over the numbers of vehicles blocking their paths. How else could adapted materials help make cities smarter and safer?

Image source: TPAQI