Lighting bicycle paths is essential to provide a secure route, to ensure safety (subjective and objective) for cyclists
and to guide them on their way. It also increases comfort.
The European Committee for Standardization (CEN) has established a series of standards for public lighting ( EN 13201-x Road Lighting ). For cycling facilities, these standards provide recommendations for the level of illumination according to the layout of the road and the (relative) positioning of the bicycle paths, the presence or absence of speed-reducing devices, the risk of aggression and the possible need for facial recognition. In general, a value of between 5 and 10 lux is recommended for bicycle paths. The lighting must enable cyclists to follow their route safely , regardless of the time and the season, otherwise the bicycle path risks being under-used. The lighting must also allow cyclists to easily see obstacles in their path and to understand
the marking on the ground. This is known as horizontal illuminance. It measures the amount of light hitting the surface in lux. The lighting should also make all vertical objects clearly visible. It is important for cyclists to be able to read signposts, to identify nearby buildings and to see cyclists or pedestrian coming towards them. It is also essential that motorists can see them, if the bicycle path is beside or near a road. The illumination of these vertical objects (traffic signs, cyclist’s shadow, etc.) provides what is known as vertical illuminance. It is measured 1.5m above the road. The level of illumination should be as uniform as possible and always prevent pools of darkness.
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