You did. So did I.

I agree wholeheartedly that the government spends a huge amount of money on things that are foolish or immoral. Wouldn't it be nice for each taxpayer to have a line item choice?

In this case, I see a project that is rather novel, but as it benefits just a few at more than moderate expense (both construction and maintenance), the ROI is low. The government should support accessibility improvements that benefit those that really need transportation help. In this case however; they would be spending money just to help cyclists, who, though they may not be strong enough to ride up the hill, are too lazy to get off their bike and walk up.

How about that this encourages the use of alternative transportation... thus cleaner air, less noise pollution, and yes a moderate amount of exercise... why force it?

But you have no problem with mass amounts of your taxes going to the pockets of fossil fuel and defence industry companies while getting their own huge tax breaks?

- Andy

Could work in some situations and thus certainly could benefit from some study. There are probably more cost effective measures though.

Andy, Are you asking for an answer or have you already decided on what the answer is? If the former, see Post #27 .

I was being rhetorical and cranky. Cannot stand when people do not seem to comprehend that taxes make the country function from air traffic control to picking up roadkill and everything in between & think that Bob & jane from next door paved the local interstate all on their own.

- Andy

One of my Marine Corps drill instructors once told me "p#$$!3$ can't be heros". I would like to think that it also applies to escalatoring your bike up a hill.

I doubt that the guy (or gal) carrying home groceries on a bike (or on a daily commute to work) is concerned about seeming herioc. Given the topography of that town it appears the escalator can make getting around by bike convenient enough that many people can forgo use of a car for many of their daily trips. Seems like worthwhile infrastructure for that community.

Carry your darn groceries up hill on foot than. It's because of thought processes like this that half of America is fat, lazy, and usless.

I think if I were a kid I'd be doing laps on that

Some do but any adults around will say something to them after a couple of trips. I think most of them use it enough that there's little fun or novelty.

Interestingly Skirail/Poma have purchased rights to it and are beginning to market it elsewhere.

Just to be killjoys? If the kids have the fare what's it to ya?

half of america isn't even close to getting on a bike for any reason

But does it crank it up to 400 watts?

It's not the US that's building this kind of infrastructure, but the city of Trondheim in Norway which cares enough about encouraging their citizens to get around by bicycle instead of driving that they built this escalator. I suspect that is one of the factors that has resulted in Norway having an obesity rate that is only about one fourth that of the US.

BTW, I just carted about 60 lbs. of groceries home on the back of my bicycle earlier tonight. Fortunately I don't have any major climbs along the way. But if I did my inclination would have been to hop in one of our cars instead of trudging up a hill on foot with that kind of a load. Sure I could do it and have climbed some mountains with backpacks weighing almost that much - but it's not the way to encourage people to leave their cars behind for many of their daily errands.

Wierd.
So you have to keep one foot on a wheeled device, and one foot on the pusher.
And they charge money to use it?

Not much of a benefit for pedestrians.

Is it only "assisting" one person at a time?

A rope pull like is used in ski areas would be just as effective, and easy enough to allow dozens of people to grab on.

I thought hills were made to get a little exercise.

When I read Bike Escalator, I was envisioning something more like this.


Where one pedals to run a generator to reduce the power required to run the escalator.

I have no opinion (except that I wanna ride it), until I find out what that "card in, card out" first instruction on the machine costs a rider. Public infrastructure that is at least largely paid for by user fees, I have no problems with.

Like Norway needs this Canadian's ok.

And I still wanna ride it.

I love destroying people's ideas of needing a car, however i must agree and say most people are addicted to their rolling sofas.

- Andy

When I was a solder and a tiny little cog in the protective system that keeps so many people free..... I liked those taxpayer supported tools. Defense is the first function of every government.

'Free' has become a euphemism for policing the world with a permanent war state ..

2 billion dollar things with a106% budget over run which is the essence of a Corrupted Military industrial congressional Media complex

USN 1966 to 1969, now with Veterans for Peace// & off the Koolaide.

Oh, so you never saw any waste or unnecessary spending? Do tell.

Can you count on one hand (or one finger) the number of people you have persuaded that they didn't need a car with your idea destroying rhetoric?

How would that be better than pushing your bike up the steep part?

Right, how soon we forget. If not for those "tools of violence" Norway would be speaking German right now. Until ALL humans think like that, unfortunately they are necessary.