Van Gogh Bicycle Path (Photo via: Studio Roosegaarde)
A new one-kilometer bike lane near Eindhoven in the Netherlands features 50,000 fluorescent “rocks” carefully embedded into a pattern reminiscent of Van Gogh’s Starry Night. The installation was designed by Daan Roosegaarde, whose previous work has included illuminating 15,000 feet of Highway and a permanent interactive landscape situated alongside the Maas River in Rotterdam.
Using a luminescent material that charges during the day and glows at night, The Van Gogh-Rooosegaarde bike path evokes a feeling of wonder which Roosegaarde describes as, “like biking through a fairy tale.” The video clip below shows what the path looks like while being ridden at night.
While it’s not immediately clear whether the artistically lit trail has any additional safety benefits, one would think that anything drawing more attention to the bike path would probably be a good thing. Additionally, the media attention surrounding the path’s recent completion should inspire locals to come see it for themselves.
Roosegaarde says, “Some people will come because they’re interested in safety and energy-friendly landscapes, others will come because they want to experience art and science.” Either way, that’s more people riding bikes, and that’s something to get excited about.
