Romanian NGO proposes 'green roads' for pedestrians and cyclists in Bucharest

The Organization for the Promotion of Alternative Transport in Romania (OPTAR) has presented its Green Roads for Bucharest project, which targets a network of roads for pedestrians and cyclists in Romania’s capital. Roads for pedestrians will be separate from those for cyclists, and the space dedicated to bicycles will be between 2 and 5 meters wide, plus safety spaces. The NGO submitted its project to the Bucharest City Hall for partnership. The “green roads” will be developed in the capital’s areas with lakes/Splaiul Independentei, in large parks, central boulevards - without affecting the lanes for public transport, streets with low car traffic and industrial areas. According to the project, the routes will link points of high interest in Bucharest, and over half of the inhabitants will have easy access to the network, while some 25 percent will have to walk or bike between 300 and 600 meters to reach the “green roads”. The project will be developed in three steps: identifying the network (6 months), the implementation of the network (12 months) and modernization (36 months). OPTAR also analyzed two possible routes that could be part of the Green Roads network. One of them would have a length of 1.6 kilometers and would link Olari street - Izvorul Rece street - Corbeni street - Popa Rusu street - Martin Serghiescu street - Batistei street. The second route would have over 2.2 km and would follow the route: Aviatorilor Blvd. - Beijing Blvd. and back until the intersection with Arhitect Ion Mincu street. According to the project’s presentation, some of the measures to be taken to make “green roads” possible, include establishing one way routes for cars, 2-meter wide bike lanes, plus the safety space, forbidding parking on the sidewalks, and ensuring accessibility for people with disabilities. Find the entire presentation of the project below. Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com