The longstanding controversy of where the heck to put bike lanes appears to have come to a screeching halt in London, England with the proposition of a cheaper, greener alternative. London-based design firm Exterior Architecture has developed SkyCycle, an architectural innovation which calls for elevated bike lanes. The plan, if put into action, would remove cyclists from roads. This separation would decrease the number of cyclist-related accidents, minimize CO2 emmissions, and maximize profit by charging cyclists a small fee of £1 per ride. The cheap cost would encourage Londoners to minimize their carbon footprint, while squeezing in a workout at the same time. 

The city of Toronto is no stranger to bike lane disputes– our economy loses billions of dollars every year from gridlock and traffic congestion. Perhaps it’s time for Toronto’s legislature to realize that the problem’s solution rests in creating a safe and accessible area for cyclists. As TTC fares continue to rise in tandem with cyclist-related injuries, the SkyCycle proposal seems both sustainable and safe. According to Exterior Architecture, SkyCycle would create “a cycling utopia, with no buses, no cars and no stress.” [Via PSFK]

View the proposal as a digital animation below:

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Claudia McNeilly is an editorial intern at the Toronto Standard. You can follow her on twitter at @claudiamcneilly

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