Bicycle used to be associated with a rural unhurried life, but now it is firmly entrenched on the streets of big cities. The number of cyclists in the Russian capital has long ago exceeded 3 million, but the first bike path in Moscow appeared only in 2011. The length and number of these highways is growing, due to which the number of accidents involving cyclists has significantly decreased.
Let's ride like a breeze
Today, about 200 km of cycling routes have been built in the capital, laid in park areas, as well as having a transport function. The greatest length is near the bike paths in the center of Moscow, which pass through parks and along river embankments. Transport cycling routes go along the tracks and along the main streets.
Of course, ideal conditions for cyclists are not created everywhere in the metropolis. Underground and ground crossings make you carry an iron horse. No less difficult are multi-lane routes with heavy traffic, in a word, there are still many difficulties. But cyclists are convinced that the future belongs to this mode of transport. And until it comes, you can spendday off, pedaling along one of the most picturesque bike paths in Moscow.
Yauza route
It is 16 km long, starts from the Garden of the Future park, which is not far from the Botanichesky Sad metro station, and ends at the high-rise building on Kotelnicheskaya embankment. The route will take you to historical places along the river. A bike ride will allow you to admire the Rostokinsk aqueduct, located near the bridge, which is also called "Millionny" by the people. Here you can pause and remember that it was erected under the legendary Catherine II. For a long time it was considered the highest stone bridge, and fabulous funds for those times were spent on its construction: more than one million rubles.
Besides this attraction, on the way cyclists will meet many more interesting things: Lefortovo Park, the Stroganovs' estate, the Museum of Old Russian Culture and Art and much more. Thus, the cycle route along the Yauza embankment will bring a lot of pleasure, saturating the day with vivid impressions. And if there is still strength left at its finish, then it will be possible to go along the embankment of the Moscow River or along the Boulevard Ring.
Moskvoretsky route
Starting from the pond near the Novospassky Monastery and running along the banks of the Moskva River, it leads to the city center and to the most popular tourist spots. In order not to spend extra money, it is better to take a larger supply of water with you. Vasilyevsky Spusk, Alexander Garden, Gorky Park -world-famous places in Moscow are now equipped with bike paths. The main thing is not to yawn on Pushkinskaya Embankment, as pedestrians, carried away by a walk, may find themselves right in front of the wheels of a bicycle.
Then the route goes to Kosygin street. Here you have the opportunity to visit the highest observation deck, see Moscow and rise above the city smog. The last point will be the Kyiv railway station. Seventeen kilometers of aesthetic pleasure, clean air and a comfortable walk - all this is the Moskvoretsky route. In addition, bike paths in Moscow parks are convenient and environmentally friendly, since there is space and cars do not interfere. Moreover, there are already several such highways in the city.
Through the night capital
This route is very different from other bike paths in Moscow, because at night the noisy and bustling city becomes completely different. Many familiar places look completely new in the light of lanterns. The route starts from the Turgenevskaya metro station and runs along the Boulevard Ring. There are few cars on the roads at night, which is very convenient, as you can admire the architecture to your heart's content, and even steep slopes and hills are not tiring. Then the road leads to the legendary Tverskoy Boulevard - the historical part of the city, and the Old Arbat is still waiting on the way. From here you can drive along the old lanes and streets to the Patriarch's Ponds, at night they look just like in Bulgakov's famous novel.
Bicycle paths in the center of Moscow are well suited for long and comfortable rides. Another great placeA large stone bridge, from here you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the Kremlin. Illuminated by night lights, it has been admired for hundreds of years. On the bridge you can cross the Moskva River and slowly move to the final point - Kitai-Gorod metro station.
As the map will show
The artist Anton Polsky was the first to design bike paths in Moscow. This initiative found a grateful response from city residents. Now everyone can find any suitable route using the latest maps of Moscow cycling routes. Now they are even available as applications for mobile phones. Below is a diagram of a bike path in Moscow, one of those that has been gaining popularity lately.
Future plans
All-knowing statistics have calculated that in this cycling season, Muscovites have already used bike rentals more than one million times. And the parade of cyclists, which has been held annually in Moscow since 2012, set a new record at the end of this May - forty thousand participants rolled on two-wheeled vehicles. It was a truly national holiday, which brought together cyclists aged 10 to 78 years. In a wide and bright column they drove along the Garden Ring. The huge popularity of bicycles requires the development of appropriate infrastructure. The number of bike rentals and the number of cyclists is growing, which means that new bike paths are needed in Moscow.
Where are we going?
Since 2011to date, 56 routes have been laid in Moscow. In the near future, it is planned to open new bike paths in the Terletskaya Dubrava and ZIL parks, as well as near the Grachevka estate, in the Brateevskaya floodplain and the Meshcherskoye recreation area.
In addition, the streets renovated last year will also have bike lanes. In total, it is planned to lay them along 23 central streets with a total length of 20 kilometers. In addition, the installation of more than 300 special traffic lights at the busiest intersections will streamline the movement of cyclists. Of course, the movement of cyclists along the streets is also difficult for pedestrians, so embankments and parks are given priority in the construction of bike paths in Moscow.
No matter how pessimistic some forecasts may sound that the bicycle will not be able to displace noisy and polluting cars, many take the example of the inhabitants of the capitals of European countries, using the bike not only for pleasant walks, but also in order to get to to work. That is why the city authorities pay great attention to the development of bike paths in Moscow. In addition, bicycle parking and two-wheeled horse rentals are appearing.
The My Street program is not over yet, according to Deputy Moscow Mayor for Transport Maxim Liksutov. Therefore, many cycle paths in Moscow, as well as cycle lanes separated from the roadway by markings, are just beginning to be built, they can be used next season.
But it was decided not to build a bicycle track on the Boulevard Ring,everything remained at the pre-project stage, as it turned out during a sociological survey that the townspeople do not support this idea. But as a pilot project, appropriate markings will be applied on a small area. If cyclists appreciate it, then soon the entire Boulevard Ring will have a bike path.
Green Ring Program
In June, the capital hosted the Bicycle Forum, organized by the Moscow Department of Transport. Cycling activists and transport and road experts discussed many topical issues. But the most striking part of the program was the presentation of the large-scale Green Ring project. It is designed to unite all cycling routes into a closed network, connecting 18 metro stations, 6 railway stations, as well as a dozen and a half parks. The length of the route will be 75 kilometers, it is planned to equip all related infrastructure.
The cycling activists were invited to ride along the Green Ring and then present the collected observations for further work of the department to improve the project. This proposal was met with great enthusiasm, and now cyclists have every chance to use comfortable bike paths in Moscow. Although even today the reviews of cyclists about the existing routes indicate that the Russian capital is not inferior in this respect to other European cities.
