The promotion of cycling has also been taken up in Kyrgyzstan. The passion for bicycles has finally reached our mountainous country. Moreover, this enthusiasm is not just among the youth racing on the velodrome, but is a serious interest regardless of age and social status. In other words, the ultimate goal pursued by officials is to shift citizens from cars to bicycles in order to improve the ecology and relieve road congestion.
As is known, these two issues have recently become the most pressing and painful in Kyrgyzstan. They are widely discussed and have gained recognition and popularity. Last summer, a group of deputies interested in the development of cycling conducted extensive work. Specifically, they studied the conditions for creating bike paths in Bishkek. More specifically, they calculated the cost of future bike paths.
Active support was provided to the deputies from the SDPK party by cycling activists from the Bishkek cycling community. Together, they developed several options for the routes of bike paths in different parts of the city. These options were reviewed by the city hall to understand what is needed for their establishment. As a result, three options for bicycle infrastructure were selected. The first option is a bike path for the tourist and children’s route called “Tourist.” The remaining two are options for routes leading to the mountains. The options selected by the municipal services were sent for cost estimation for their construction.
The “Tourist” route runs within a square bounded by Abdymomunov Street, Erkindik Boulevard, Chui Avenue, and Panfilov Street. There is a bike rental in this square. A park is also located here, where cyclists can ride without interfering with pedestrians. In the specified square, it is necessary to install ramps (44,000), repair the sidewalk (34,000), create markings (639,000), and install traffic signs (60,000). In total, 768,000 soms are needed for the first bike route option.
The second option involves creating a bike path along Manas Avenue, from Frunze to Semetey, covering 8.6 km. Here, patch repairs, surface repairs, and sidewalk widening on both sides are needed (2,090,000). Markings with thermoplastic are also required (6,048,000). The total needed is 8,138,000 soms.
The third project is to create a bike path that will run along Ankara Street, from Shabdan Baatyr to Auezov, covering 4.7 km. Here, only thermoplastic markings need to be applied (3,312,000).