Getting up hills: The CycloCable

[whole diary]

[Red Squirrel]

EXCLUSIVE: CYCLE LIFT PROPOSED FOR PARK STREET

Bristol’s hills put off many people from cycling more regularly.

But this could soon end thanks to an invention imported from Norway which sees cyclists carried up a steep gradient by an escalator known as the Trampe lift or CycloCable.

A group of architects and city planners want to see the UK^▸ (United Kingdom)’s first CycloCable installed on Park Street to encourage more people to cycle in a post-Covid Bristol.

[...continues]

Source: Bristol247

YouTube video demonstrating CycloCable in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ec_ujdz-mn0&feature=youtu.be

[eightf48544]

Interesting mot sure how co-ordinated you have to be one of the young girls using it looked rather wobbly.

Reminded me of a cross between San Francisco cable car and a London conduit tram.

[Bmblbzzz]

It's an idea that comes round every few years. One question more relevant to Park Street than that hill in Trondheim is how it affects crossing the road.

[Surrey 455]

It's an idea that comes round every few years. One question more relevant to Park Street than that hill in Trondheim is how it affects crossing the road.

And what about parked cars? Can you manually cycle around them, then resume your assisted ascent?

[Red Squirrel]

It's an idea that comes round every few years. One question more relevant to Park Street than that hill in Trondheim is how it affects crossing the road.

And what about parked cars? Can you manually cycle around them, then resume your assisted ascent?

Crossing roads seems problematic, but with a bit of lateral thinking there may be a solution to be had. In the case of Park Street, I suggest the answer would be to place the lift on the west side of the road and close the end of Park Street Avenue to motor vehicles.

As to parked cars: Once you get off, the lift pedal seems to retract so I don't think there's an option to hop off and hop back on. Looking at the Park Street example though, the answer would most likely be to run the lift between parking and pavement.

At some point Park Street may well be closed to private motor vehicles in any case; it is within Bristol's 'Inner Loop'. Perhaps a CycloCable is not ambitious enough; maybe a full funicular would be more the thing?

[Bmblbzzz]

A funicular was at one time proposed for Marlborough Hill, behind the BRI^» (Bristol Temple Meads - next trains).

Or so I read in the Post recently, in an article they did on a series of plans that had been made for the city through the 20th century, from those which actually happened, like the dual carriageway through Queen Square, to the well know which didn't happen, like filling in the docks, to others, like the funicular up Marlborough Hill. Unfortunately I can't find the article now or anything on the internet, but ISTR^▸ (I seem to recall/remember) it was proposed – according to the Post at least – in an exhibition sometime in the 1970s or maybe early 80s.

[grahame]

My son and his girl friend (now wife) used to live on Park Row and I seem to recall an easy way up to their place was the lift in Trenchard Street Car Park, which has entrances on the ground floor and also near the top.

Would a CycleCable abstract users from this lift, or was it not really intended as an easy way home from town?

[Bmblbzzz]

Trenchard Street car park lifts were mentioned somewhere else in this connection. Apparently they're now only accessible with a car park ticket.

[broadgage]

I cant see it being allowed in the UK^▸ (United Kingdom). Whilst it looks fairly safe, A sufficiently determined fool could no doubt achieve an orrible accident.
Also anything new has to be minutely examined for any possible detrimental effect on the disabled, the LGBT lobby, ethnic minorities, those with special needs, etc etc.

Arguable rendered less important by the ready availability of electrically assisted cycles that can ascend hills with ease.

[grahame]

That's another thing to see if I get to Trondheim some time. Further video at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7j1PgmMbug8

[Red Squirrel]

...or this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHMmqeVWXTg

[Ralph Ayres]

Also anything new has to be minutely examined for any possible detrimental effect on the disabled, the LGBT lobby, ethnic minorities, those with special needs, etc etc.

...and following such an assessment, if no such effects had been overlooked the scheme could go ahead.  Seems reasonable to me.  (and I think it's to assess the effect on real individuals, not a lobby group)

[broadgage]

Also anything new has to be minutely examined for any possible detrimental effect on the disabled, the LGBT lobby, ethnic minorities, those with special needs, etc etc.

...and following such an assessment, if no such effects had been overlooked the scheme could go ahead.  Seems reasonable to me.  (and I think it's to assess the effect on real individuals, not a lobby group)

I do not share your optimism, if the initial studies and consultations showed no ill effect on any protected minority, then that shows the need for more reviews.