In Tashkent, Uzbekistan, a pilot project has started to create a dedicated lane for small mobility vehicles on a 2.4-kilometer section of Lyutfi Street.
This experimental project is intended to serve as a model for implementing similar infrastructure on other streets in the capital. The dedicated lane is designed for bicycles, electric scooters, electric mopeds, and other types of small mobility transport.
The Tashkent City Traffic Management Center was responsible for implementing the project. The goal of creating the lane was to separate the flows of cars and pedestrians.
The growing number of private transport users and delivery services increases the load on urban space. Without special infrastructure, micro-mobility users are forced to travel either alongside cars in the general traffic flow or on sidewalks with pedestrians. Differences in travel speeds in such conditions create inconvenience for all road users.
After conducting tests on Lyutfi Street, the new format demonstrated positive results. Specialists assessed the convenience and clarity of the lane for users, as well as the potential of organizing dedicated infrastructure for micro-mobility in urban traffic conditions.
Future plans include paying more attention to the physical protection of such lanes. Depending on the condition of the road surface, they can be separated from vehicle traffic using dividers, barriers, and other protective elements. This aims to reduce the probability of micro-mobility users' routes intersecting with car routes.
After completing the testing, the Center's specialists are already studying other areas of Tashkent where this solution could be applied. Developing such infrastructure should ensure the separation of traffic flows: cars should move on the roadway, pedestrians should remain on sidewalks, and bicycles and other small mobility devices should use the dedicated route.
