Three regional cycle routes completed in Riga for €25.6 million
Riga has completed three regional cycle routes costing over €25.6 million, connecting the city with Babīte, Ulbroka and Ķekava.
Riga and its surroundings have seen the completion of three cycle route projects with a combined cost of more than €25.6 million. The largest share came from the Recovery and Resilience Facility, while the municipality covered the remainder through a loan from the State Treasury.
The new infrastructure is aimed at linking existing routes into a single network, eliminating gaps and making cycling safer and more convenient. The projects also improve road safety for all users and help balance pedestrian, cyclist and motor vehicle flows.
The three completed routes
The Riga–Babīte–Piņķi route is approximately 7.3 km long, running from Nameja krastmala near Zunda Canal to the intersection of Slokas iela and Kurzemes prospekts. It follows Slokas iela, Dammes iela, Anniņmuižas bulvāris, Bebru iela, Kurzemes prospekts, Jūrmalas gatve and other street sections. New bike lanes and paths have been built, sidewalks widened, intersections improved with raised crossings, roundabouts and traffic light solutions, and rest areas installed.
The Riga–Ulbroka cycle path is roughly 5.9 km long, built mainly along Augusta Deglava iela from Deglava tilts to the Lubānas iela roundabout. It features a modern separated design — wide sidewalks and a cycle path divided from traffic by green zones. The route provides a safe connection from central Riga to Ulbroka and Saurieši.
The Riga section of the route to Ķekava is about 4.2 km long, and together with the Ķekava municipality section the total length exceeds 8.5 km. It consists of a combined pedestrian and cycling path separated from motor traffic, encouraging residents to use bicycles for daily commutes.
Opening and further development
At the opening event on 6 August, Riga City Council representatives, together with teams from the Latvian Cycling Federation and Latvian Cycling Girls, rode the Riga–Babīte–Piņķi route to explore the new infrastructure.
Further cycle infrastructure development is planned in several directions, including Centrs–Ķengarags–Rumbula–Dārziņi, Šķirotava, Granīta iela and Grostonas iela. Cycle paths will also be integrated with railway stops and mobility points. In addition, new cycle lane sections are planned on Dzirnavu, Šarlotes, Marijas and Lāčplēša ielas, along with completion of a roughly 430-metre section on Dzirnavu iela between Tērbatas and Skolas ielas.
