Ideaz

Cycling is one of the easiest and most healthy ways to travel in a city. It saves money, reduces pollution, and helps keep one fit. But actually, cyclists often feel unsafe because there are no proper lanes for them. They have to ride beside buses, cars, and bikes. This makes people avoid cycling even when they want to.

Current solutions are painted cycle lanes which exist in a few places but they are still poorly maintained and broken midway or are even taken by parked vehicles. This shows a major gap: people are interested in cycling, but current infrastructure does not support them.

That’s why I thought of CycleSafe Tracks.

This idea is simple and practical: we create dedicated cycle lanes on main roads which are separated from traffic by using low, flexible rubber dividers (like speed bumps along the road). These dividers are cheap, easy to install, and also will prevent cars from entering the lane, while still allowing emergency vehicles to cross if required.

At night, these lanes can use glow-in-the-dark paint and solar-powered lights for visibility. At intersections, we could have push buttons for cyclists which link to traffic signals, giving them a green light for a safe crossing. In crowded areas, 3D zebra crossings can automatically slow vehicles, protecting cyclists and even pedestrians.

This solution benefits cyclists by providing them with safety and even families who want their children to ride without fear, and the environment by reducing dependency on cars and pollution. Governments also benefit, as CycleSafe Tracks are affordable, cheap, and show progress to smart city goals.

This problem matters to me because I’ve seen many people avoid cycling mainly due to danger and not because they don’t want to try it. With CycleSafe Tracks, we can make cycling safe, practical, and plausible.