SolarLite Pathway Studs Transforming Road Safety in Milton Keynes
Milton Keynes is embarking on a forward‑thinking programme to enhance safety and comfort along its extensive network of traffic‑free pedestrian and cycling routes. More than 4,000 SolarLite solar powered pathway studs from Clearview Intelligence will be installed in key areas, helping residents travel safely in all seasons while supporting the city’s wider ambitions for Net Zero emissions and improved active transport.
This major investment focuses on priority locations across Milton Keynes where enhanced visibility will deliver meaningful benefits for the public. Rather than deploying studs across every path, Milton Keynes City Council has chosen 40 targeted sites where improved lighting can make real difference in safety, security and user confidence. These routes link residential neighbourhoods, transport hubs, and bus stops, improving the experience for walkers and cyclists and encouraging year‑round active mobility.
Supporting Government‑Backed Transport Improvements
The project is fully funded through the city’s Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP), a national initiative backed by government that aims to strengthen public transport access, safety and inclusivity. In Milton Keynes, BSIP seeks to create well‑connected multimodal journeys, especially for those who rely on linking bus travel with walking and cycling.
By illuminating key pathways, the new SolarLite studs increase visibility after dark, reduce risk for vulnerable or isolated travellers, and help encourage modal shift away from personal vehicle use. BSIP’s principles directly align with Milton Keynes’ sustainability strategy, which promotes safe, clean, efficient movement between transport options without increasing traditional lighting demands or grid‑based energy consumption.
Harnessing Off‑Grid Solar Power for Safe Night‑Time Travel
SolarLite studs represent a sustainable, environmentally sensitive alternative to conventional street lighting. Each unit is powered entirely off‑grid, using daylight captured through its integrated solar panel. The studs store sufficient power to operate autonomously, with up to 20 nights of stored energy even during extended periods of poor weather.
This predictable and reliable illumination is particularly valuable for year‑round walking and cycling, especially during winter months when daylight hours are limited. The studs activate automatically at dusk and provide soft, directional lighting that guides users safely along paths without producing excessive light or glare. As the lighting is low level and contained, nocturnal wildlife and local ecosystems remain undisturbed.
Designed for Shared‑Use Paths and Green Transport Environments
Clearview’s SolarLite design focuses on comfort, safety and navigation. The studs provide clear visual guidance, helping people feel more confident when travelling during darker hours. Traditional overhead lighting often creates light pollution and requires considerable energy, cabling and maintenance. SolarLite offers a smarter alternative that blends with natural landscapes and supports the city’s commitment to preserving green corridors.
The directional low‑level lighting design ensures there is no upward light spill, protecting habitats and preserving the natural feel of Milton Keynes’ parks and pathways. For a city already recognised for its green spaces and cycle network, SolarLite is well‑suited to maintain visual quality while improving safety.
Clearview Intelligence: Five Decades of Intelligent Transport Expertise
Clearview Intelligence has been shaping intelligent transport solutions and advanced traffic safety systems for more than fifty years. The company works closely with local authorities, transport planners, and infrastructure specialists to deliver bespoke solutions that improve safety, sustainability and user experience.
Clearview notes: We work closely with our clients, partners, and supply chain to foster a collaborative environment that drives continuous innovation and growth. This enables us to deliver bespoke and cutting‑edge solutions tailored to our client’s unique needs.
The SolarLite product line is one of the company’s flagship offerings, used widely across the UK for roads, junctions, cycleways, crossings and shared paths. SolarLite demonstrates how solar technologies can be adapted for safe pedestrian use without relying on carbon‑based energy or costly maintenance regimes.
Clearview explains: SolarLite delivers safer travel through innovative solar‑powered technology. From carriageways and junctions to cycleways, footpaths and crossings, our solutions provide clear guidance and improved safety across every route.
Growing Adoption of Solar‑Powered Active Travel Infrastructure
Cities throughout the UK and Europe have increasingly recognised the value of intelligent pathway illumination. Solar studs have been installed along coastal footpaths, rural tourist routes, canal towpaths, national parks and university campuses, significantly improving safety and usability without harming the environment.
A recent Transport Scotland review found that solar pathway studs can reduce the risk of slips, trips and route confusion in low‑light locations, providing safer conditions for families, students and elderly pedestrians. In addition, their installation avoids trenching, invasive electrical infrastructure, and long‑term operating costs.
Local authorities have also reported measurable improvements in night‑time cycling use, particularly in commuter corridors and areas where overhead lighting is not feasible. Off‑grid illumination supports sustainable mobility choices and contributes to national decarbonisation goals by reducing private car dependency.
Delivering Net Zero Benefits and Long‑Term Value
Milton Keynes has long stood out for progressive urban planning and has one of the UK’s strongest active travel cultures. The integration of SolarLite studs supports the city’s journey toward Net Zero by reducing emissions, cutting maintenance demands, and helping create safer multimodal journeys.
Solar powered studs require virtually no operational energy and have minimal environmental impact. They deliver reliable performance over many seasons and support the long‑term scalability of active travel infrastructure without increasing municipal energy budgets.
The investment aligns with wider national objectives in improving public health, reducing congestion, and promoting greener neighbourhoods. Better lighting also supports community cohesion, allowing residents to travel confidently for work, leisure or essential errands even during darker parts of the year.
A Smarter and Safer Transport Future
Milton Keynes’ decision to adopt SolarLite reflects a shift toward smarter mobility solutions that meet safety, sustainability and value for money expectations. Off‑grid solar illumination requires no wiring, trenching or street‑lighting installation, making it an efficient option for councils seeking practical, low‑impact upgrades.
For Clearview Intelligence, this deployment underscores growing recognition that safety and sustainability go hand in hand. Through intelligent design and solar innovation, councils, planners and transport agencies are increasingly able to support safer travel without increasing energy consumption or long‑term maintenance complexity.
