Cycling to the office is not just cool, but also healthy and faster. Bucharest employees are increasingly using an alternative means of transport, a bicycle or scooter (electric or not) to go to the office, avoiding traffic and congestion in public transportation. It has been more relaxed lately, thanks to the facilities offered by the owners of large modern office buildings with bicycle parking, showers and changing rooms. Now, however, there are few legally and adequately signposted bike lanes, recognized by the Bucharest Road Brigade. The good news is that four more new routes are underway, which could be ready by the end of this year.
The current bike lanes that can be used well are only those on Calea Victoriei, Buzești Boulevard, Herăstrău Park – Piața Romană, Constantin Prezan Boulevard, Aviatorilor Boulevard.
In 2017, the Road Brigade monitored 42 road tracks, but most were closed, and only those listed above had good infrastructure and were signposted correctly.
Future bike lanes
In 2019, the Capital City Hall received financing from the state budget of 44.5 million lei, to build infrastructure, and to signpost four new bike lanes, which will connect 21 streets, from several neighborhoods in Bucharest.
Route 1, which is currently being in works, will be used extensively by corporate owners, connecting Victoriei Square with Pipera Road and Presei Libere Square.
Thus, route one will have two branches:
– Branch 1: Victoriei Square – Aviatorilor Boulevard – Beijing Boulevard – Nicolae Caranfil Street – Pipera Road,
– Branch 2: Constantin Prezan Boulevard – Kiseleff Road – Presei Libere Square.
In total, on this route, there will be bicycles for about 9,30 km, according to the Bucharest City Hall project.
Route 2 will enter more into the residential area, between Victoriei Square – Iancu de Hunedoara Boulevard – Ștefan cel Mare Road – Mihai Bravu Road 17,20 km.
Route 3 bike lane, under construction, is of corporatists from the center-west area, from the Grozăvești-Orhideea and Politehnică business pole. Thus, route 3 connects Calea Victoriei – Bd. Regina Elisabeta – Splaiul Independenței – Națiunile Unite Boulevard (Grozăvești Bridge). The total length of the designed bike lanes is about 10,15 km.
Route 4 connects the Unirii area, from the regions in the East of the Capital: Libertății Boulevard – Constitution Square – Unirii Boulevard – Decebal Boulevard – Bessarabia Boulevard and the National Stadium.
What will the new bike lanes have
Among the works carried out on these tracks, are set horizontal-longitudinal and transverse markings made with green, white paint which ensures visibility in fog or rain, day, and night, vertical signage with metal sheets covered with reflective foil mounted on poles, the location of physical separators delimiting the bicycle lane from the space intended for pedestrian traffic.
According to a long-term PMB plan, other new bike lanes are planned in neighborhoods such as Camp Road, Military, or Titan. For now, however, only those listed above can be used safely.
Also, future bike lanes will be built and 420 public bicycle parking lots with special racks, near buildings with high potential to attract people who use this means of transportation.
Using a bicycle or scooter on the way to the office reduces the time spent in traffic and is also a way of being active, but it is also an action to protect the environment. Alternative transportation is a priority for the local administration and the owners of modern office buildings that get through the bicycle facilities (unique parking lots, showers, access roads, locker rooms) higher scores for obtaining green building certificates.
If you would like more information about the accessibility of the office buildings in Bucharest, please contact the ESOP team by filling this brief form, or by phone (+4) 0723.26.61.97 or (+4) 021.528.04.40. We’ll promptly answer your inquiry!