Milan Is Building A 750km Cycle Network To Make Biking The Main Mode Of Travel

By 2035, 750 kilometers (466 miles) of bicycle lanes will be sprawled across the bustling city of Milan, Italy. This comes as an effort from the city to turn cycling into the easiest form of public transport.

The Cambio network, announced late last year, will see “cycle highways” being introduced via linking existing cycle paths and building new “super-cycle corridors” to complement them. 

This network, reminiscent of a far-reaching subway network, will connect Milan with all 133 communes within its greater area, according to Dezeen. This will see around 86% of Milan’s population and 80% of services—schools, businesses, hospitals, interchanges—located within one kilometer (0.6 miles) of a bicycle route.

There will be 24 cycle lines, according to a press release from the Metropolitan Council of Milan. Four circular lines and 16 radial lines are included, as well as four greenways. These are “super fast lines” that take commuters from north to south, and east to west. 

Apart from being more environmentally friendly, cycling as a mode of transport will also help to improve public health by giving commuters more “opportunities” for movement. It will also promote road safety for cyclists and help to create “green corridors” for biodiversity. 

Even though expanding the network will first cost the city €250 million (US$286 million), it could bring multiple benefits, such as preventing road accidents and keeping healthcare costs low, especially if residents report better overall health from increased activity. In total, it’s estimated that the network will eventually save the city upwards of €1 billion (US$1.1 billion). 

The new Cambio network is part of the city’s aim to maintain net-zero emissions by 2050, which is in line with the Paris Agreement goals. 

[via Dezeen and Momentum, image via 230218916 © Kevin7819 | Dreamstime.com and the Metropolitan Council of Milan]