Few towns in Netherlands are reportedly considering heating their bike paths, now that winter is coming. According to the local news publication De Telegraaf, a group called Dutch Cyclists Union are deeply interested in installing underground pipes on their pavements to keep them accessible and usable for the public. Heated bike paths will not only mean that the pavements are snow-free, it will also reduce road accidents and encourage more people to ride their bikes on what is considered to be the bicycle capital of the world.
Among the towns in Netherlands considering the ingenious plan are Utrecht and the town of Zutphen. The estimated cost, should the project continue, is estimated to be around $25,000 to $50,000 per kilometer. Explaining the reason for the high expenses involved, Marcel Boerefijn of the engineering firm Tauw said that the underground pipes will have to be installed 50 meters down. Once they are installed, the pipes will remain there all year round and will collect and store heat generated during the summer season.
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