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There are many ways to explore the seven mountains that surround the picturesque UNESCO World Heritage city of Bergen on Norway's fjord-studded west coast. The newest ones, however, may well turn out to be record-breaking.
The three-kilometre (1.8 miles) long bicycle and pedestrian tunnel has been built at the base of Mount Lövstakken, and its creators say it is the longest purpose-built tunnel of its kind.
Fyllingsdalstunnelen, as it is known, opened on 15 April with a family sports day after four years of construction starting in February 2019. The government-funded megaproject cost about $29 million, or NOK 300 million.
“We Norwegians are usually modest people,” Camilla Einarsen Heggernes, a spokeswoman for the railway company Bybanen Utbygging, told CNN. “But in this case we would say that the tunnel is 100% modern equipment.”
It takes just under 10 minutes to cycle through the tunnel, or about 40 minutes to walk. To break up the monotony of the windowless tunnel, there are a variety of art installations throughout, as well as different colors and lighting to help users identify where they are on their journey and give a sense of direction.
At the central point there is a “sundial” installation, where the sun definitely never shines. They show the time of day, which also helps visitors find their way, as well as break up long sightlines. The rest of the tunnel is completely straight, except for small bends at the entrance and exit.
If you're wondering how cyclists and pedestrians can use the same space, the tunnel has two lanes of traffic: a 3.5 meter wide bike lane and a 2.5 meter wide lane for walkers and runners. “We laid a blue rubber surface throughout the tunnel, similar to a sports track,” explains Einarsen Heggernes. “This makes it more pleasant to use than if you were just walking on asphalt.”
The new tunnel arose as a by-product of the second Bybanen tram line in Bergen, which opened in November 2022. The tram line running through the mountain required a parallel evacuation tunnel, so the developers decided to make the new tunnel multifunctional.
Bergen is Norway's second largest city, and the port city is connected to Oslo, Norway's capital, by the 496 km Bergensbahnen railway line. This stunning train journey crosses Europe's largest high plateau, Hardangervidda, and its snow-covered views are the backdrop for battle scenes in the Star Wars sequel The Empire Strikes Back.
Although Fyllingsdalstunnelen bills itself as the world's longest purpose-built bicycle tunnel, the reason for this caveat is the 3.6-kilometer-long Snoqualmie Tunnel in Washington, east of Seattle. This former railroad tunnel is now a passageway for cyclists, joggers and walkers and is part of the 250-mile trail from the Palouse to Cascades State Park.
Six European cities were included in CNN Travel's recent survey of 10 global cities. most cycling cities. Copenhagen has 385 kilometers of bike paths, the first of which opened in 1892. In Strasbourg, France, approximately 6,000 bicycles are available at self-service stations 24/7 for tourists to use. And the Swiss capital Bern has exciting downhill trails for riders who feel the need for speed. The best part is that cyclists can ride the cable car to the top and then ride back down – without any of the uphill struggles.
