It is costly to keep pathways in parks well lit to ensure the safety of cyclists and pedestrians, but Pro-Teq (a British based company) has developed a product that can drastically cut back on those costs. 'Starpath' is a spray-on coating of light-absorbing particles that harvests ultra-violet rays from the sun during the day and dramatically lights up at night.
It is anti-slip and waterproof and can be applied to various surfaced like cement, wood and tarmac. 'Starpath' comes with added benefits. Its non-reflective surface doesn't contribute to light pollution, which not only limits views of the night sky, but has negative consequences for local nocturnal wildlife due to the constant illumination.
"Our surface works best over tarmac or concrete, predominantly tarmac, which is the main bulk of the U.K. Path network," says Pro-Teq's Neil Blackmore. "When it's coming to the end of its useful life, we can rejuvenate it with our system, creating not only a practical, but a decorative finish."
It is, however, not yet determined whether 'Starpath' will be illuminating enough to also deter crime to the extent that overhead streetlights do. Neil Blackmore suggests that for larger urban parks where the possibility of crime is higher, his technology could be used in conjunction with overhead lighting, if not replacing street lights completely.