Cyclists in the Netherlands have got it good. This steel tensioned deck let cyclists ride safely above a busy multi-lane highway in Eindhoven (one of the most bike-friendly areas in the world).

This floating roundabout was completed last year, but it made headlines again after it was nominated for a Dutch Design Award this month. The design was a simple solution to a complicated planning problem: How to protect cyclists from a complicated four-way traffic roundabout.



The firm behind the project, IPV Delft, describes it as a "floating saucer."

The deck is suspended from cables that span from a 210-foot tall steel pylon in the center. The cable-stayed design was initially an experiment, but it had to be modified because it vibrated in the wind. Now it's used by thousands of cyclists a week in commuter-heavy Eindhoven.

bird's-eye view Hovenring Eindhoven (the Netherlands) designed by ipv Delft from ipv Delft on Vimeo.