Cycle lane coverage

To improve the usability of the route throughout the year

A cover to protect cyclists from bad weather (rain, sun, snow), improving the usability of the route throughout the year.
We see the various coverage methods which can be adopted for a cycle and pedestrian path, taking into account several objectives: protection from atmospheric agents, integration of solar panels, comfort for users, aesthetics and harmony with the environment.

Types of cycle/pedestrian path coverings

Lightweight pergola cover

Materials: laminated wood or steel + polycarbonate or glass covering.
Design: open, with modular elements, often with an aesthetic as well as protective function.
Fit to: parks, riversides, pedestrian areas with high landscape value.

Tensile structure

Materials: PVC, PTFE or ETFE membranes on steel or aluminium structure.
look: modern, dynamic, with continuous or segmented roofing.
Pro: lightness, quick assembly, wide range of shapes.
Ideal context: public spaces, events, areas subject to strong sunlight.

Tunnels or light galleries

Materials: glass, steel, wood or composites, with or without solar panels.
Function: total protection from rain, wind and sun.
Footnotes: often used in areas with extreme weather or in urban redevelopment contexts.

Green roof (green roof on shelter)

IDEA: extensive vegetation cover over a flat or inclined structure.
Benefit: improves local microclimate, absorbs CO₂, reduces the heat island effect.
Cons: more complex to implement and maintain.

Conceptual rendering produced via AI (artificial intelligence) generation.

The image represents a cycle path immersed in greenery, protected by a long wooden pergola completely covered with climbing plants, such as Virginia creeper. The wooden columns support a horizontal structure with parallel beams, from which dense plant entanglements fall, creating a pleasant shading effect. The sunlight filters through the leaves, casting irregular shadows on the path and creating a fresh and relaxing atmosphere, ideal for cyclists and pedestrians.

Covering with adjustable sunshades

Description: metal or wooden slats that modulate solar radiation.
Function: partial shading, without completely obscuring the path.
Tools: ideal for hot climates, with urban or commercial routes.

The cycle path is protected by a light covering composed of adjustable sunshade elements, designed to ensure shade and thermal comfort along the entire route. The structure, made of steel or aluminum, is characterized by horizontal slats that can be adjusted to allow the amount of sunlight to be modulated based on orientation and time of day.
This system not only improves the livability of the cycle path during the hottest hours, but also creates interesting plays of light and shadow on the pavement. The intervention fits harmoniously into the urban or landscape context, offering a functional and contemporary design solution for sustainable mobility.

Photovoltaic panel roofing

Purpose: clean energy generation.
Structure: usually a light metal or galvanized steel shelter, with solar panels mounted on the upper surface. An interesting solution is the one with a main structure in steel and a secondary one with laminated wood beams.
Benefits: dual function (coverage + energy production), ideal in urban and industrial contexts.

A significant example of coverage for a cycle path:
Cipnes cycle/pedestrian path in Olbia: sustainable mobility and energy innovation

In the heart of Gallura, in Olbia, an ambitious sustainable mobility project is taking shape: the Cipnes cycle/pedestrian path. 3,5 kilometers long, this infrastructure will not only be a safe and green connection for cyclists and pedestrians, but also a true example of energy innovation. The path will in fact be covered by well 18.000 square meters of photovoltaic panels, a choice that perfectly combines soft mobility and clean energy production.
An initiative that represents an important step towards a more sustainable, intelligent and environmentally friendly urban model.
Specifically, three systems will be installed with 7296 panels of 270W each, for a total panel surface area of 18 thousand square meters. The total power of the systems will be 1969,92 kW (2 Mwp).