Glow-in-the-Dark Bicycle Path Unveiled in Rural Polish Town to Curb Accidents at Night

— -- A rural Polish town has unveiled a new glow-in-the-dark bicycle path in the hopes of curbing pedestrian and cyclist accidents at night.

European construction company TPA Sp. z o.o recently installed luminous path in Olsztyn, a town that sits on the Lyna River, according to TPA President and CEO Igor Ruttmar.

Luminophore particles in the asphalt collect energy from the sun, Ruttmar told ABC News. That energy is then used at night, when the path lights up for up to 10 hours.

"It illuminates a very bright blue, which is gorgeous against the dark forest and river at night," Ruttmar said. "The glow is a very nice complement to the area's beautiful nature, lakes, small hills and countryside."

The luminescent path isn't only beautiful, but also functional.

"We hope that the glowing bicycle path will help prevent bicycle and pedestrian accidents at night," Ruttmar explained. "It's a problem here in Poland, especially in the areas farther from the cities that are darker and more invisible in the night."

Though the bicycle path has been open to the public since Sept. 23, Ruttmar said his company's work is not quite finished.

"Right now, it's only about 100 meters long," Ruttmar said. That's about 328 feet. "We want to test out this short section, see how it endures the winter and then create a plan to make it longer."