There is a five-and-a-half-mile bike path sitting in the middle of an eight-lane highway(八车道公路), topped with a solar panel(太阳能板) that lights up the streets below in South Korea. But this is not an ordinary bike path. It started as an idea to produce clean energy while giving people a place to exercise at the same time. South Korea built this eco-friendly bicycle lane that connects the cities of Daejeon to Sejong in 2014.

The 13-foot-wide path set in the middle of a highway is unique in South Korea, where most bicycle paths are built next to walkways. But what really makes the path stand out is its one-of-a-kind feature—a solar panel-lined roof. Several other city governments in South Korea have built bike roads with solar panels, but this particular road in Sejong remains the longest and the only one set in the middle of a highway.

With 7,502 solar panels fixed at intervals(间隔空间) of about 30 inches, the paneling covers 3 miles of the 5.5-mile cycling highway and is capable of producing an average of 2,200 MWh of eco-friendly electricity every year that powers many of the streetlights and electronic displays in Sejong. The Korea Western Power Co., Ltd. is in charge of checking and repairing the solar panels to keep up the power efficiency(效率).

“Solar panels in public equipment are part of a trend(趋势) in clean energy,” Kim Geun-ho, a researcher from the Green Energy Institute said. “At the beginning stage, solar power generation was mostly built in vast farmland and mountainous areas. It moved on to public equipment rooftops, and finally evolved to play the role of a shelter and power generator at the same time, in this case, a roof on top of a bike road.”

“This is the fastest bike road I can take from my home in Daejeon to my workplace in Sejong,” said Park Yoon-soo, who has been going to work every day using the solar panel bike road for the last two years. “I have always appreciated the solar panel roofs because they become good shade under strong sunlight, and a roof when it rains.”

Say No to Non-electric Cars

Most modern cities have taken action to reduce traffic jams and improve air quality. But if they want to become more livable, they should think about more ambitious goals.

Amsterdam has set a good example. As from 2030, driving a gas vehicle there will not be allowed. The Dutch capital wants its citizens to become healthier and happier.【小题1】Amsterdam isn’t alone; it joins Hamburg, Madrid and other cities in moving toward at least partial car bans to reduce pollution.

The advantages of such plans are clear. 【小题2】It slows economic growth. Pollution from cars not only contributes to climate change but is also a threat to well-being. Amsterdam’s government says it reduces life expectancy of its citizens by a full year.

【小题3】 Electric cars, after all, are more expensive. And for most people, giving up driving means life will become less convenient. Perhaps cities can help make this switch easier. For example, they can think about improving public transportation. They can also design appealing public spaces for pedestrians (行人). 【小题4】 Technology can also do its part. Cities can be more open to new ways of getting around, such as bike-sharing, driverless cars and delivery drones(无人机).

Saying no to non-electric cars or even all cars is hard. 【小题5】 Making our cities more livable has to become an urgent goal.

“I didn’t hear them call my name.” explained Shelley Hennig to Active Teens (AT) when she talked about that exciting moment on national television when she won the honor of Miss Teen USA 2004. “Are you ready?” is what she heard. Then she said, “I shook my head no, and then they said ‘yes’ and it was announced again.”

It was four days after that life changing moment for the seventeen-year-old high school student from Destrehan, Louisiana—she was still on cloud nine.

“I was so shocked! I never believed that it could actually really happen.” Present in the audience that day were: her mother and father, older brother, her friends, and her dance teacher.

AT asked why her dance teacher had traveled so far to see her compete. “She’s always been my role model. I’ve danced with her since I was six. She’s been through so many difficulties and came through them all. I’ve learned to get over bad life’s experiences and learned how to move on because of her.” One of those bad life’s experiences for Shelley happened three years ago when her brother Brad was killed in a drunk driving accident. He was 18.

As Miss Louisiana Teen, she traveled around the state speaking to teens about the dangers of drinking and driving. In her role as Miss Teen USA, Shelley will continue to speak to youth about safe driving, together with many other things to help the teenagers.

When AT asked Miss Teen USA if she had any advice for our readers, she said, “Don’t let anyone change you. Hang out with people that make you feel good about yourself. That way, it is easy to be yourself.”