A glow-in-the-dark bike path designed to provide more efficient and affordable lighting for cyclists is set be trialled at Bruce in Canberra's north.

The 220-metre path next to Purdie Street will link the Canberra Stadium, the Australian Institute of Sport and Canberra Institute of Technology Bruce campus.

Minister for Territory and Municipal Services Shane Rattenbury said similar paths were already used at Gosford in New South Wales.

The paths looks like thick sandpaper and are similar to Canberra's existing green on-road cycle lanes.

They are made from a combination of aggregate and minerals that absorb sunlight, providing more than eight hours of illumination after the sun goes down.

"Places such as parks and nature reserves do not have street lighting due to the impact on native fauna and high costs and this technology, which allows the path to emit a soft glow at night, is a great alternative to the more traditional overhead lighting," Mr Rattenbury said.

"The new path will provide visual guidance and direction to cyclists and other path users when it is dark, ultimately providing a safer trip... Unlike street lighting, the path is also expected to have less interference with the activities of native nocturnal species. This will be investigated throughout the trial."

The path, which cost $54,000, has already been laid and will take a number of days to settle.

It will be usable by early next week.