(Courtesy: SolaRoad) Dutch bicycle commuters will soon be riding on sunshine — well, kind of. The Netherlands announced that it is putting the final touches on a 230-foot bike lane that’s constructed with solar panels. The bike path, set to officially open Nov. 12, will be the first publicly accessible solar road in the world.
The pilot bike lane is just a small segment of a path the runs along a provincial road in the town of Krommenie, which is roughly 15 miles north of Amsterdam. The bike path was built using square concrete modules fitted with solar cells. A one-centimeter-thick layer of tempered glass fits over the top of the cells. Although the panels may sound delicate, they can handle the weight and pressure of a truck without cracking. But since the panels are in a fixed position, they generate 30 percent less energy than those installed on rooftops. ...
