[Nice Matin] Sophia Antipolis has tested LuminoKrom® photoluminescent paint
A photoluminescent paint to guide cyclists at night
Nice-Matin reports on new road marking solutions being tested by the Sophia Antipolis Urban Community to improve visibility and safety for travelers. Among them is LuminoKrom®, our photoluminescent paint, which has been applied to a bike path connecting Valbonne to Biot.
Over a distance of about two kilometers, the LuminoKrom® marking absorbs natural light during the day and gradually releases it once night falls. This keeps the trail visible in the dark and provides cyclists with a continuous light source to help them stay on course.
This solution is particularly well-suited to this route, which passes through areas with little or no lighting. Unlike streetlights, the system operates without an electrical power supply and helps preserve the nighttime environment by avoiding the addition of a new source of artificial light.
The Nice-Matin article also reviews the lessons learned from this three-year pilot project. Exposed to real-world conditions, the paint continues to fulfill its function as a nighttime guide and recharges in daylight, even when the sky is overcast.
This project thus illustrates the local government’s commitment to experimenting with new technologies to support the development of sustainable transportation while balancing user safety, energy conservation, and the preservation of the dark sky.
Ensuring the safety of non-motorized transportation without increasing the number of light sources
Street lighting is not always the most appropriate solution for ensuring the safety of every kilometer of bike path. In natural, suburban, or low-traffic areas, installing street lighting requires infrastructure, consumes electricity, and creates artificial light that can affect nocturnal biodiversity.
Photoluminescence offers a complementary approach: making the path visible rather than attempting to illuminate its entire surroundings.
LuminoKrom® makes it possible to highlight the contours of a trail, emphasize its path, or mark specific points without connecting to the power grid. After absorbing light during the day, the paint releases this energy in the dark and provides self-sustaining guidance for several hours.
The feedback from Sophia Antipolis is particularly valuable because it allows for an assessment of the technology over the long term. Several years after its application, this pilot project demonstrates the effectiveness of photoluminescent markings in supporting local governments seeking energy-efficient and sustainable solutions for their nighttime bike paths.
A new way of thinking about safety for non-motorized transportation: guiding users at night without necessarily adding more lighting.