Lithuania's Capital Hosts the Country’s First Bicycle Street

The first bicycle street in Lithuania has opened in the capital city of Vilnius, granting cyclists equal rights with motorists while allowing both types of vehicles to travel on the same road. This development is reported by The Mayor.

The new traffic system has been implemented on Vileišio Street in the Antakalnis district. Road signs have been installed to indicate that bicycles and cars have equal importance and the right of way.

On this street, cyclists can freely use all lanes and do not have to ride single file on the right side of the road — they can ride side by side, and cars are not allowed to overtake them. Furthermore, cars are not permitted to stop or park on this street except in designated areas.

It is important to note that motorcyclists do not have similar privileges — they must ride as close to the right edge of the road as possible, as on regular streets.

The roadway consists of two lanes in each direction and a central cobblestone strip. This strip is intended to catch the attention of drivers if they are going too fast and remind them to adhere to the speed limit, which is 30 km/h on this street.

The decision to designate Vileišio Street as a bicycle street was made by the city council after research indicated that it is crucial for bicycle traffic in the city, but was previously not at all suited for cyclists.

Officials from the Vilnius Transport Department believe this initiative is a first step towards establishing a comprehensive cycling network in the city and across Lithuania, particularly in areas where creating separate bike lanes is not feasible.

As a side note, The Gaze reported that Slovenian cyclist Tadej Pogačar won his debut multi-stage race, the Giro d'Italia, which concluded in Rome on 26 May. The 25-year-old rider from UAE Team Emirates secured victory with a significant lead of 9 minutes and 56 seconds, the best result since Italian Vittorio Adorni's performance in 1965.