The Norwegian Bicycle Lift
When I started bicycling a few months ago on a regular basis, I learned my neighborhood topography quickly! It doesn't take much of a rise to get a cyclist straining and sweating (at least not this one!), and that likely accounts for the relatively low share of bicycles on the streets in hilly cities. The city of Trondheim, Norway, has figured out a way to increase that percentage: in 1993, they installed a Trampe bicycle lift on one of the steepest hills in the city's center. Despite hills, the city now has the highest share of cycling in any Norwegian city.
Want to get a look at the lift? Trampe has posted a promotional video on their site. If you're really interested in details of the Trondheim lift, a project report is also available (in MS Word). While the slopes in my neighborhood likely don't justify such an investment, this technology (which looks relatively simple) could help get people out of there cars and onto their bikes.
