[20 minutes] Montpellier: the metropolis tests a cycle path that lights up at night
Montpellier experiments with LuminoKrom® paint to make bike paths safer without lighting
The Montpellier metropolitan area has inaugurated the first section of cycle path to be equipped with LuminoKrom® photoluminescent markings, on the Clos de l'Armet road in Castelnau-le-Lez. This segment of the future Réseau Express Vélo now benefits from night-time guidance visible up to 80 meters away at the start of the night, without the need for electricity. Developed by the Bordeaux-based company OliKrom, this paint captures natural or artificial light during the day and emits it in the form of a diffuse glow for over ten hours. This innovation offers a concrete solution for enhancing user safety while reducing light pollution.
An alternative tested at several sites to combine soft mobility and biodiversity preservation
The aim of the trial is to assess the durability, effectiveness and interest of the system for cyclists, particularly on unlit sections. Three other lanes will soon be equipped: in Cournonterral, Grabels and on the greenway linking Montpellier to Lattes. LuminoKrom® technology, approved by the Routes et Rues Innovation Committee in 2019, has already won over more than 70 local authorities. It makes it possible to reduce conventional lighting, particularly in environmentally sensitive areas. The Montpellier metropolis aims to reconcile performance, energy savings and respect for biodiversity.