Cyclists Who Hate Hills, Meet Norway’s Bike Escalator

[marmar]

(Slate) Cycling is wonderful way to get to and from work. So healthy. So environmentally friendly. So cost-effective. But if your route home involves a giant hill, it’s way too easy to say, “Screw this. I’m taking the bus.”

The residents of Brubakken Hill, in the Norwegian city of Trondheim, do not have this problem. In 1993 they were blessed with Trampe: a bicycle escalator that pushes riders up the hill without requiring them to dismount.

To use the escalator, a cyclist rides up to the station at the bottom and places her right foot on a small footplate sticking up from the slot running along the curb. The plate then moves all the way up the hill, lifting the rider along with it. There are multiple footplates, spaced every 66 feet to allow up to six cyclists to use Trampe at the same time. ................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.slate.com/blogs/atlas_obscura/2014/12/02/trompe_cyclocable_the_bike_lift_in_trondheim_norway.html

[hunter]

1. With enough of these in a hilly city, every trip could be "downhill" all the way!

[snooper2]

2. that is lazy, work harder and smarter! like this!

[FSogol]

3. Wow, that's a job I couldn't do. I have the strength, but not the rhythm.

I'd be hitting the other hammers.

[FSogol]

4. Very cool, thanks for posting. n/t

[Travis_0004]

5. As a cyclist who is 6'3, 220, I say "screw you hills"

This is a great idea and should help on commuting routes. I actually dont mind hills to much, even if I do get passed by a few cyclist who weigh 100 lbs less than me. I could see why a commuter would love this. For a lot of new commuters that hill would be impossible to bike up without walking.

[ileus]

6. I always laugh at folks who insist every one should ride to work

Sure you may only be 5 miles from work here in WV, but that's a 1 hour ride and a shower once you get to the office.

[dilby]

7. I think these would be great for older riders.

I don't mind hills but I am just under 40 so my body can take the abuse however for older riders something like this would be great. I know a lot of people who still ride into their 70's but they can't do hills so this would make it easy for them to continue doing something they love and something that helps them stay in shape.

[sendero]

8. That is what...

... the small front sprocket coupled with the big back sprocket is for.

[Travis_0004]

9. If you are in shape that is an easy hill

If you are out of shape and older, that could be a difficult hill. Make the hill easy, and hopefully get a few people on their bikes. Maybe in a few months they can take on the hill without assistance, but without some help they would have never built up to that level.

I bike 1500 miles a year, and I would use a hill lift to work. I wouldnt use it going home, but I see nothing wrong with people who would use it all the time.

[tridim]

10. Neat!

But I just shift into first and twist the throttle on my motorized bike when a hill comes up.

Professional cyclist snobs hate me.