Advocacy & Safety - Bicycle hiways (idea)

Take a metro area. You have a freeway or hiway going across. Connecting different areas of the city.

The idea is to build raised bike ways atop. Such that these bike ways are 2 stories up or more. They'd be 10 feet wide and there will be one on each side of the freeway, for different bike travel directions. One would have to ride up hill or carry their bike or elevator to get on one of these. The bike way would be fully cages with chicken wire net for protection. It will alow have a grade, 2 to 5 degrees, allowing bikes to accelerate to 20, 30, or even faster mph while the ride don't even have to pedal.

To get to these bike ways there will be many bike lanes along major routes to the highway.


Thus you have it, an efficient way for people to travel around large metro areas on a bike. Using gravity to move a biker from point A to point B.


What are your thoughts?

who is going to pay for it? the city? taxpayers? not a chance.

Using gravity to move a biker from point A to point B.


What are your thoughts?

Soo it always goes downhill eh. I'd love that commute :D

It could go up hill when going more downhill is not possible. Riding 1 story uphill is no trouble even for an old lady, especially while at speed.


Who's going to pay for it all???


Let's see.. We can spend million gazillion transillion dollars in the next 20 years as we expect our population to quadruple. Or we can spend less money to do something radical and perhaps more people will ride bikes. It's not that expensive at all. To rid the whole large city it would cost less than when building a brand new other highway, or extensions to the current highway.

Not all cities need this. South Florida could use one. Works best when you have a large metro area with one congested highway in the middle.


Hmmm. I can ride my bike on I95, even though it's illegal. During morning and evening rush hours, and I'd be riding faster than the traffic it self, which is at stand still. Which also gives an idea of why not, how cop would catch you if he stuck in traffic, lolz...


I know some of you eager to speak up and stress over things like this. So perhaps this is an idea some might use.

If you are going to spend that much on a grade separated bike path, you might as well enclose it in clear thermoplastic (rather than chicken wire) and put giant fans at the start. That way, you always have a 25 mph tail wind to move you along.


A more probable plan would be wide raised bus and bike only roads.

Also, I would drop the bike lane thing from the plan.

Let us know if you find anyone willing to pay for it.

Bill Gates couldn't afford this. Nice dream, though.

What you all talking about. It's cheap.


To pay for it in the future one could charge tolls, I wouldn't mind paying 50 cents to use that thing. Also city bicycle license could be an option. Here we have a city with these accomodations, I wouldn't mind paying $20 each year for a priviledge to bike in this city.


Money, whem compared to other things, is not an major issue for a project like this.

I sure as hell mind being forced to pay for a bike licence or tolls.:mad:

Would you be willing to pay $15,000 a year for the privilege? The per-mile cost of raised roadways is extremely expensive. The vast majority of the public would not be willing to pay for special, raised, incline-specific, bicycling highways.

What you all talking about. It's cheap.


To pay for it in the future one could charge tolls, I wouldn't mind paying 50 cents to use that thing. Also city bicycle license could be an option. Here we have a city with these accomodations, I wouldn't mind paying $20 each year for a priviledge to bike in this city.


Money, whem compared to other things, is not an major issue for a project like this.

You ever tried to get an appropriation for a city project or grant? Money does matter! Believe me!

While I agree that this is a really cool idea, on the surface, there are other aspects to it yu haven't considered....

Extremely limited escape routes and an accident would tangle up a couple of cyclists with each other or the chicken wire.

How about emergency access, ambulance, etc?

Toronto had considered enclosed elevated bikeways and the project stalled for those among other reasons.

Are you talking about something like this?
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1329/944856062_38e87b78bd_o.jpg

This is the new trail over the Missouri River in West St. Louis County. The bike trail has a ramp on the St. Charles side that connects up with the Katy Trail. There is a similar "other direction" trail hanging off the other side of the bridge. I say "hanging off", because there is no structural support for the trail, other than it is connected to the bridge. This must be OK, because it doesn't carry much weight.

Are you talking about something like this?
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1329/944856062_38e87b78bd_o.jpg

This is the new trail over the Missouri River in West St. Louis County. The bike trail has a ramp on the St. Charles side that connects up with the Katy Trail. There is a similar "other direction" trail hanging off the other side of the bridge. I say "hanging off", because there is no structural support for the trail, other than it is connected to the bridge. This must be OK, because it doesn't carry much weight.

That's a small part of what he's advocating....

He wants an entire network for urban travel, which would be great as an idea, but try to fund it!:eek:

there are other aspects to it yu haven't considered....

Extremely limited escape routes and an accident would tangle up a couple of cyclists with each other or the chicken wire.

How about emergency access, ambulance, etc?

Toronto had considered enclosed elevated bikeways and the project stalled for those among other reasons.What about ambulance cycles? They don't exist today, of course, but in a future where bicycles are a major part of the transportation network, they could.

Actually, come to think of it, I think EMT cycles do exist today...

Gulf cart emergency if needed, or motor bike cops. Accidents won't be that big of a deal. Most could happen a cyclist could break a leg if he's really unlucky. Big deal. Let's not complicate things.. For now..


No I'm not talking about network.


In my city there is a highway about 20 miles long. I95. Run bike hiway ontop of it or to the sides of it.

Also, there another smaller highway, another 20 miles. So we talking about 40 miles of major bike hiways. That's all. These work like I95 but for bikes. To get to the bike hiway you use roads..


Sure, all things cost money. Money is just paper. Quality of living is what counts. Great local leaders and positive upbeat attitude I'm sure will get things accomplished. How to fire things?

All things cost money, and when they are necessary, money is found. A bicycle highway isn't probably "necessary" today, but tomorrow, it could be. Then again, when the oil supply peaks, and fuel prices begin to rise, we may discover a new use for the existing highway network...

while we're at it... i'd like pony.

Gulf cart emergency if needed, or motor bike cops. Accidents won't be that big of a deal. Most could happen a cyclist could break a leg if he's really unlucky. Big deal. Let's not complicate things.. For now..


No I'm not talking about network.


In my city there is a highway about 20 miles long. I95. Run bike hiway ontop of it or to the sides of it.

Also, there another smaller highway, another 20 miles. So we talking about 40 miles of major bike hiways. That's all. These work like I95 but for bikes. To get to the bike hiway you use roads..


Sure, all things cost money. Money is just paper. Quality of living is what counts. Great local leaders and positive upbeat attitude I'm sure will get things accomplished. How to fire things?

Sorry, but money isn't just paper, it's paper that represents a set value and even though our government just prints X amount above the assets we actually have and the currency is essentially a Fiat currency that's based on future goods right now (Gotta love that deficit spending), eventually, the bill has to be paid. Fiat money is actually value negative, not factoring for inflation even, since it's in effect, financed and we have to pay interest.....

I'm not saying it's not doable, just not really practical. I still like it though!:D

I'm not saying it's not doable, just not really practical. I still like it though!:D




If you still like it thought then stop being negative. Like Too $hort said "All you need is a plan, a purpose and a motto" (http://www.lyricsdepot.com/too-short/dont-ever-give-up.html). Listen to too $hort, his a real man!

If you still like it thought then stop being negative. Like Too $hort said "All you need is a plan, a purpose and a motto" (http://www.lyricsdepot.com/too-short/dont-ever-give-up.html). Listen to too $hort, his a real man!

Who's being negative? All I was doing was making a point on money not being paper. If the OP wants this project and can get it done, then great! I've dealt with bureaucracy though, for grant requests and getting an appropriation is very hard work. Actually, I wish him luck, but he needs to know that it isn't as easy as he thinks is all.

Actually I'm the OP. I don't even interested in taking the initiative in getting this started. But I had this idea and decided to present it. Perhaps soemone reading this likes it and decided to do something with it. You know.

Me?

Nah.

Actually I'm the OP. I don't even interested in taking the initiative in getting this started. But I had this idea and decided to present it. Perhaps soemone reading this likes it and decided to do something with it. You know.

Me?

Nah.

Shoot, go for it! I actually forgot you were the OP.

whats wrong with cycling on existing roads and hiways? i ride these everyday with no issues, get to where i'm going fast. I just dont see what the point is of spending money(ie taxes) for something that is not needed.

You need a bell?

Wouldn't a bulb horn be better?

LOL But I can work a mean bell, like a train driver has his signature whistle.

What would need to happen is for the demand for this type of transportation to increase. Once people WANT express bike lanes, then it would happen.

We spend a exhorbitant amount of our resources, both personal and civic, for cars, gas, roads, road maintenance, parking, putting up with pollution, why? Because we want to drive cars at any cost.

Once people really want to ride bikes, the infrastructure for bikes will increase. But don't hold your breath that there is going to be a groundswell of demand for biking anytime soon.

What about ambulance cycles? They don't exist today, of course, but in a future where bicycles are a major part of the transportation network, they could.

Actually, come to think of it, I think EMT cycles do exist today...

EMTs on bikes are pretty common. New Orleans uses them for big events in the Vieux Carre and other cities do similar things. Basically they are a way to get to a patient and start treatment while determining if a rig is needed for transport. If transport is required then an ambo is called, if not the bike EMT patches the person up and sends them on their way. In NOLA many of the calls are drunk people who fall and start bleeding, no need to try and stuff an ambo in the Quarter for that.

I remember reading about a type of bicycle highway that is fully enclosed by plexiglass, and has air circulated throughout to act as a tailwind, Can't remember where I read it, unfortunately, or I'd post more info about it.

^ i do believe it was Popular Mechanics, back in the 50's or 60's. It got laughed out of the patent office and unceremoniously dumped.

I remember reading about a type of bicycle highway that is fully enclosed by plexiglass, and has air circulated throughout to act as a tailwind, Can't remember where i read it, unfortunately, or I'd post more info about it.
Are you thinking of this? http://www.biketrans.com/

Are you thinking of this? http://www.biketrans.com/Yes, that's it. Not sure where I read it though (I didn't read it on that website). It's in a book I have somewhere, just can't remember which book.

Looks like somebody's working on making it a reality. :)

EMTs on bikes are pretty common. New Orleans uses them for big events in the Vieux Carre and other cities do similar things. Basically they are a way to get to a patient and start treatment while determining if a rig is needed for transport. If transport is required then an ambo is called, if not the bike EMT patches the person up and sends them on their way. In NOLA many of the calls are drunk people who fall and start bleeding, no need to try and stuff an ambo in the Quarter for that.I'll bet an EMT cycle-- perhaps a tandem EMT cycle-- with a special BOB-type trailer for transporting injured persons would be well-suited for accessing a bicycle highway.

Take a metro area. You have a freeway or hiway going across. Connecting different areas of the city.

The idea is to build raised bike ways atop. .....

What are your thoughts?

Hmmm....you'll flesh out your idea in more detail as the thread unfolds, I am sure. To me, for now, the best returns on your money are widening and improving shoulders on the roadways.

roughstuff

Thus you have it, an efficient way for people to travel around large metro areas on a bike. Using gravity to move a biker from point A to point B.


What are your thoughts?

That all the nut jobs who are now stashed safely in their cages would be running wild on their bicycles.

Speedo

I would think that any specialized bicycle high-speed routes would need to integrate into better systems of regular roads. Ones that support a higher density of cycle traffic. Regardless of whether or not they're elevated.

On the tailwind aspect, I suspect passive scoops could be oriented to generate differential pressure providing some push. Raw concept.