Moscow authorities are planning to open three new cycling lanes in September intended both for leisure and for commuters seeking to avoid cramped journeys on public transportation, a city official said.
One of the new bike lanes will stretch 5.4 kilometers in the city's southeast, linking the Marino metro station with the Kapotnya district, which abuts the Moscow Ring Road. Mayor Sergei Sobyanin inspected work on the project Wednesday, according to RIA-Novosti.
A further 7-kilometer route is planned between metro stations Belyayevo and Chertanovskaya to the south of the city.
Deputy Mayor Pyotr Biryukov told the news agency that authorities were also developing plans for a much longer bike route to snake more than 21 kilometers through the capital's central and western administrative districts.
According to Biryukov, the route would start on Bolshaya Filyovskaya Ulitsa, close to metro Filyovsky Park, before leading to Krymskaya Naberezhnaya, Kutuzovsky Prospekt and on to the Vorobyovskaya and Pushkinskaya embankments.
City Hall is planning to open bike rental stations along some of the routes, Biryukov added.
The new initiative is not the first time city authorities have tried to make Moscow more bike-friendly. In 2011, authorities ran a pilot project to set up a 7.5-kilometer route near Moscow State University, RIA-Novosti reported.
But despite their efforts, Moscow lacks the biking infrastructure present in many other European capitals.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
