The routes would typically sit above regular roads, and would be decidedly cozier thanks to covering and a cooling system driven by purified rainwater. An automatic speed limit (in the concept, about 15.5MPH) and AI-driven traffic management would prevent the faster vehicles from crashing into scooters. And you might not even need to own a machine to use it -- BMW envisions a rental system where you'd pick up a bike at an access point if you need to get across town in a hurry. You won't necessarily see something like this in markets where cars dominate, like North America. A system like Vision E3 Way could be very useful in countries like China, however. It's not just that many more people ride bikes in these areas -- it's that high population densities could necessitate separate, automated roads to keep traffic flowing. The challenge is getting cities to take up the idea. Even if these roadways don't cost much to build, it's no mean feat to significantly alter the urban landscape.
BMW has developed plans for an elevated roadway for electric bikes to help reduce road congestion, make riding safer and reduce air pollution in cities. The Vision E3 Way concept has been developed in association with Tongji University in Shanghai, and is thought to be most suitable for adoption in Chinese cities. The new roadways would be situated above existing roads, and use artificial intelligence (AI) traffic management to regulate speeds and prevent accidents. The proposal includes the provision of rental bikes to increase accessibility to the lanes.