The Baana — Helsinki’s ‘Highway’ for Cyclists and Pedestrians

As other cities dream of bicycle highways, Helsinki has proven that the concept is easily achievable. Julia Belluz reports for Vox that Finland’s capital is home to a central artery reserved only for cyclists and pedestrians. Constructed in 2012, the Baana, or fast lane, was formerly a railroad track. Today it is one of Europe’s premier modes of “active transport,” providing convenience and safety to users. Basketball and tennis courts along the path offer additional exercise opportunities.

Helsinki’s bicycle highway is an example of how fresh thinking about urban planning can boost health and reduce emissions. “The environments we live in can play a huge role in shaping our health — and this is especially true when it comes to the design of our cities,” Belluz writes. Helsinki joins Amsterdam and Copenhagen in promoting dedicated cycling lanes for commuting.

[See: Idea exchange — What Singapore is learning from Copenhagen on bicycling]


Read the full story here. This article originally appeared at Citiscope, a nonprofit news outlet that covers innovations in cities around the world. More at Citiscope.org.