Longest Elevated Cycling Path In The World Opens In China

Instead of riding a bicycle alongside traffic on congested roadways or adding to the air pollution problem in a car, now commuters can bypass the cars and utilize greener transportation alternatives, riding on elevated paths above the endless stream of automobiles. Earlier this month, the world’s longest elevated cycling path opened in China in an effort to alleviate transportation issues in Xiamen, China.

Developed by Danish design firm Dissing + Weitling, the Xiamen Bicycle Skyway is 7.6 kilometers long, making it the longest elevated cycling path in the world. This isn’t the first time the firm has done a project involving cycling; they created the Bicycle Snake — a 230-meter cycling-only bridge in Copenhagen — in 2014.

While the path in Xiamen will be elevated from the roadway, it isn’t totally isolated. There will be 13 points along the path that connect to other transportation systems; 11 of which correspond to bus stops on the Bus Rapid Transit route that runs on an elevated road parallel to the bike path.

The Xiamen Bicycle Skyway in China is the world’s longest elevated cycling path

The path is certainly well equipped for cycling. It has 11 spiral ramps for continued riding, public bicycle stations that house 355 bikes, 253 parking spots across seven platforms, and 30,000 lights to ensure safe cycling at night.

While the path was created for the promotion of cycling, it also caters to those on foot. There are several pedestrian lanes conveniently marked by a different color to avoid confusion or accidents with cyclists.

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Michael LoRé

Sports Editor

Michael has been obsessed with sports since he started playing recreationally when he was 5 years old. Realizing he couldn't make it as a professional athlete and was a decent enough writer, the lightbulb went off: sports journalist. After honing his craft at the University of Delaware, Michael has covered anything and everything from scholastic field hockey to the World Series. Born and raised in New Jersey, Michael now lives in New York City, having worked most recently for New York City FC and the NHL. His favorite sport is soccer.