This summer I became a bicycle commuter. Sure, I’d ridden my bike to work a few times now and then previously… but this summer that all changed. I now prefer to make my daily commute by bike rather than vehicle. A new down-to-business commuter bike with a full pannier set-up will do that for a person, I suppose! It did for me, at least.

I’m fortunate to live close enough to work (6 miles) that the timing to commute by bike is nearly the same as it takes to drive, park and walk to the office. It does help that my morning commute is all downhill, too.

While I’ve been able to identify road ways to travel that are bicycle friendly and not too car congested for most of my ride, I must confess that I am one of the annoying downtown sidewalk cyclists. The one-way streets, aggressive drivers and various obstacles (construction, gutters, manhole covers, uneven surfaces, etc) make for an interesting and downright intimidating ride. And, yes, I wear a helmet!

That’s why when I saw this proposed design for an elevated bicycle lane I was intrigued:

Dubbed “SkyCycle”, the tubular airway is the brainchild of Sam Martin, a London landscape architect, who gave up cycling because he found it too dangerous. Now, I’m not sure this is the ultimate solution, but I am encouraged by the fact there are people out there dreaming up ways to cater to the bicycle commuting crowd and keep them safe.

According to the Daily Mail, the Mayor of London is seriously considering the proposal. I, for one, can’t wait to see if Mr. Martin’s innovative SkyCycle gets built. Thanks to Grist for bringing it to my attention.

Would you commute by bike if there was a dedicated cycle lane in the sky? Do you think it’s a brilliant idea you’d like to see in your city, or is it an outrageous idea that requires too much infrastructure?

Probably wouldn’t matter if you’re as fearless as these bike messengers:

— Amy DePierre