Longest Cycling and Pedestrian Bridge Across the Vistula River Opens in Warsaw
In the capital of Poland, a 452-meter-long cycling and pedestrian bridge has been opened, making it the longest of its kind in the country. It allows crossing from one bank of the Vistula to the other in six minutes, and cycling across the river in two minutes. This information comes from Warsaw's official portal.
The bridge's width varies from seven to over 16 meters. The structure is supported by seven reinforced concrete pillars. On the left bank, the passage divides into two ramps leading to a boulevard at the same level as the cobblestone pavement. In addition to the cycling lane and pedestrian zone, the bridge features viewing platforms and resting areas with wooden benches.
"I hope the bridge will become a symbol of Warsaw. It will serve as a recreational space for pedestrians and cyclists that residents of Warsaw and our guests will enjoy," noted Warsaw's mayor, Rafal Trzaskowski.
Apart from its transportation function, the bridge also holds recreational value. The bridge's design splits into two points, where it widens significantly to allow pedestrians and cyclists to step aside and safely enjoy views of the Vistula River and Warsaw, including its historic centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
"The absence of car traffic and the beautiful city panorama will allow pedestrians and cyclists to relax for a while," stated the Warsaw city administration.
After the bridge's opening, Warsaw's road administration will begin preparatory work to set up a pedestrian crossing on the adjacent Karowa Street. It will serve as an "extension" of the bridge and will be equipped with traffic lights and cycling crossings. The city administration reports that the new pedestrian crossing should be ready by the end of the summer holidays.
The pedestrian and cycling bridge was designed by the Warsaw-based Schuessler Plan studio based on the master's thesis of Malgorzata Dembowska, supervised by Professor Ewa Kurilowicz at the Faculty of Architecture of the Warsaw University of Technology.
It's worth mentioning that The Gaze previously reported that Poland set a record last year for the number of permits issued for firearm ownership. As of the end of December 2023, Polish citizens owned 843,800 firearms. This is 83,600 more than the previous year and 185,400 more than in December 2021.