Bicycle enthusiasts will surely love trailing along this gorgeously illuminated bike path found in Poland, which unveils its mesmerizing bright blue glow at night time.
Bicycle path that glows in the dark. | Courtesy of TPA Sp. z o.o
In the rural town of Olsztyn, you will find a unique bike lane that gives off a bright blue glow in the darkness. The luminescent track was officially opened for use on September 23, 2016, and was designed by the European construction company TPA Instytut Badań Technicznych Sp. z o.o.
The pavement is littered with synthetic particles called “luminophores” which collects its power from the sun, enabling it to emit light at night. According to the TPA, the glow could last up to 10 hours.
The bicycle path also has a space for pedestrians. | Courtesy of TPA Sp. z o.o
Igor Ruttmar, TPA President and CEO, says:
“The material we used for the track gives light for over ten hours. That means the road can radiate throughout the whole night and re-accumulate light the following day.”
This section of the bike trail isn’t just beautiful, it was created to serve a bigger purpose: safety.
“We hope that the glowing bicycle path will help prevent bicycle and pedestrian accidents at night,” Igor said to ABC News. “It’s a problem here in Poland, especially in the areas farther from the cities that are darker and more invisible in the night.”
Courtesy of TPA Sp. z o.o
The lane’s blue color was chosen to complement the surrounding lush scenery.
“It illuminates a very bright blue, which is gorgeous against the dark forest and river at night. The glow is a very nice complement to the area’s beautiful nature, lakes, small hills, and countryside,” Igor said.
Courtesy of TPA Sp. z o.o
As of now, only 328 feet of the path is lighted as it is still in the testing phase. But TPA may expand the project if conditions prove to be ideal.
“We want to test out this short section. See how it endures the winter and then create a plan to make it longer,” said Igor.
Courtesy of TPA Sp. z o.o
Poland is not the first European country to take on this trend. In 2014, a “Starry Night” bike trail was installed in Eindhoven, where Van Gogh lived for a few years. It was designed by Daan Roosegaarden, a Dutch designer.
In 2013, 1,614 square feet of the path in Christ’s Pieces Park in Cambridge, England was sprayed with a glow-in-the-dark coating. It was named “Starpath”, and was created by U.K. based company Pro-Teq Surfacing.
Indeed, Europe is cyclist’s haven.
Check out the video of Poland’s luminous bike trail.
