THE first two stages of the four-part Civic Cycle Loop were opened today on Rudd Street and Marcus Clarke Street on the western side of the city.

Minister for Territory and Municipal Services Shane Rattenbury opened the new bike lanes at midday today, noting they are physically separated from traffic by a low concrete barrier, “Copenhagen-style”.

“The Civic Cycle loop aims to minimise the difficulties associated with travel on congested footpaths and roads in the City area,”  Mr Rattenbury said in a statement this morning.

“The majority of the loop will be segregated from general traffic, which is great for new or less confident riders.”

The design and construction of the Civic Cycle Loop cost $6 million and when completed, the path with run for 3.2 kilometres around Civic.

The 400m-long Rudd Street section connects Bunda Street and Northbourne Avenue with Marcus Clarke Street.

The 1.1 km Marcus Clarke Street section joins Barry Drive and Rudd Street with the existing bike path around Lake Burley Griffin.

Mr Rattenbury thanked Canberrans for their recent input into the design of the Bunda Street section of the cycle loop, which will be completed, along with the Allara Street section, by late-2014.