ELABORATOR Lighthouse city Issy-les-Moulineaux officially launches Flowell to enhance cycling safety
- cinserra4
- Jan 12
- 2 min read
On 19 December 2024, ELABORATOR project partner Colas, inaugurated Flowell, an innovative ground-based luminous signage system designed to improve cyclist safety in Lighthouse city Issy-les-Moulineaux. Installed along the banks of the Seine in Issy, this cutting-edge technology aims to reduce accidents at a high-risk intersection frequently used by cyclists and motorists.
The city has been testing the illuminated light strips for a month, hoping to enhance visibility and prevent dangerous interactions between bicycles, scooters, cars, and motorcycles—especially at night. The need for improved safety measures became evident after a cyclist fatality in 2021 at the very intersection where Flowell is now installed. According to David Daoulas, Deputy Mayor for Public Space and Mobility, the location sees approximately 1,000 daily interactions between cyclists and vehicles, making it a prime candidate for safety enhancements.
Flowell’s embedded LED strips activate at nightfall, alerting drivers to approaching cyclists and making intersections more visible. The Flowell system combines light lines and bicycle pictograms to ensure the continuity of the cycle lane at the intersection of the RD50 (Rue Rouget de Lisle) and the RD7 (Quai Franklin Roosevelt), before the Issy bridge towards Boulogne-Billancourt.
The luminous markings will undergo a two-year trial period in Issy-les-Moulineaux to assess their long-term effectiveness. One concern is that, in the event of a system failure, the markings disappear completely, potentially reducing safety instead of enhancing it.
By integrating smart infrastructure into the city’s streets, Flowell represents a bold step in urban mobility innovation, reinforcing France’s commitment to sustainable and effective road safety solutions. If successful, the system could serve as a model for other cities looking to balance visibility, safety, and modern technology in their transport networks.
Alongside Flowell, within ELABORATOR Issy is also testing:
Geco Air, a free mobile application from IFPEN that helps optimise travel carbon footprints;
A mobility observatory, designed with Urban Radar, to map travel flows in near real-time.
