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South Korean solar powered bike lane whizzes cyclists along a six lane motorway

Solar bike lanes generate energy while protecting cyclists from the harsh sun and rain

An innovative cycle lane in South Korea has a solar powered roof, providing shelter from sun and rain for cyclists while generatng electricity.

The 20 mile path between Daejeon and Sejong runs down the middle of a six lane motorway, but it isn’t clear how much cyclists are protected from the noise, pollution and turbulence by the pavilion.

We recently covered a new solar powered cycle lane in the Netherlands. Called SolaRoad, the project in the town of Krommenie, around 10 kilometres to the northwest of Amsterdam, is backed by the Province of North Holland, construction firm Ooms Avenhorn Group, research group TNO and technology business Imtech, and essentially sees the standard road surface replaced by solar panels.

The cycle path being used to pilot the scheme has between 1.5 and 2.5 metres of concrete base, with a tough glass surface, underneath which will be a 1 centimetre layer of crystalline silicon solar cells.

The website adds that the group developing the concept believe that the cycle path should generate 50 kWh per square meter annually. ICT systems will allow electricity to be distributed during peak sunshine hours as well as at night and during cloudy conditions.

It is hoped that eventually the concept could be rolled out across the 137,000km road network in the Netherlands, providing power for everything from traffic signals and street lights to nearby homes.

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16 comments

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hairyairey | 1 year ago
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Here in Peterborough they used to have light columns in the centre of the road between the crash barriers. Saved money but the problem is obvious. A collision can send the light column into incoming traffic in the other direction. Exactly the same flaw here (with added falling solar panels onto any cyclist that's underneath it too).

This is an unworkable solution, even before we get onto the practical difficulty of cabling 20 miles of solar panels in a line.

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RandomCyclist | 8 years ago
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Quietest motorways I've seen... Not sure many of us fancy cycling up the centre of the M6, even if it was in a protected lane!

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Matt eaton | 8 years ago
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Not really a solar powered bike lane then.

More like a bike lane with solar panels above it, unless there is some crucial detail that I'm missing.

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arowland | 8 years ago
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"ICT systems will allow electricity to be distributed ... at night"
Don't you need lunar panels for that?

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Quince | 8 years ago
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I think it seems rather neat. No, it may not have as nice views as a quite country lane, but building a cycle option into a motorway doesn't get rid of any quiet country lanes. It simply provides some option for cycling along a motorway, which is more than we've managed in this country.

I'm sure some people will have a use for it. Motorways do tend to be quite direct.

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Airzound | 8 years ago
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Wouldn't work in Blighty as it's always cloudy and raining.

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Leviathan | 8 years ago
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I guess Koreans trust artic drivers not to jack-knife into this. I would give it a go.

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Some Fella | 8 years ago
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Its slightly ironic that the video also shows so lovely quiet country roads weaving their way through the landscape.
Lovely roads for ......oh.......i dont know.......mad idea..........cycling on?

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kie7077 | 8 years ago
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Will it be swept or will it end up covered in grit and bits of accident debris and old tyres etc.

Designers should consider this when they build bike paths - a small road sweeper vehicle should be able to clean it.

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earth | 8 years ago
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Notice how they have put the solar panels above the road  41  41 not underneath as some europeans recently suggested  21  24 8}.

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unistriker | 8 years ago
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This looks awesome. I can imagine it to be a holy place for speed freaks if it becomes unused. long straights shallow turns. good training area.

some times you can be going too quick to really take in the country side.

and i imagine its for commuting not for leisurely rides.

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velodinho | 8 years ago
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It looks like a lovely country, shame cyclists are trapped in the middle of major arterial motorway for 20 miles of it and will see little of their surroundings. Personally speaking I hate the idea of it. Solar panels - yes. Cycling there - no.

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DaveL75 replied to velodinho | 8 years ago
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my commute (when I could bike commute) wasn't scenic either... it was uninterrupted miles however.
I agree that it wouldn't be the most enjoyable riding and the questions about noise, turbulence and air quality stand but I'd use a dedicated, unobstructed route into the business areas of a city for sure and do the scenic rides in the evenings and weekends.

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Grizzerly | 8 years ago
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Solar powered bike lane! For solar powered bikes, presumably.

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Some Fella | 8 years ago
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A small but important detail. How the flippin heck does one get on or off?

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cqexbesd replied to Some Fella | 8 years ago
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Some Fella wrote:

A small but important detail. How the flippin heck does one get on or off?

I think (if you look around 1:10) there are periodic ramps/lifts from smaller paths below the motorway.

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