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Meet the Unique Norwegian Bicycle Lift

By Angie Ng

Bike lanes are still a novelty in many cities, if they exist at all, but Trondheim has gone above and beyond bike lanes. Say good-bye to huffing and puffing your way up a hill, this Norwegian city has a bicycle lift – it helps cyclists make their way up the 130m-long hill, Brubakken, at 1.5 to 2 m/s.

From its creation in 1993 until its dismantling in 2012, in preparation for its upgrade, Trampe was used by more than 200,000 cyclists, with no accidents. After the lift’s upgrade, it became known as CycloCable®. It can transport a maximum of 300 cyclists per hour, with five cyclists taking the lift at the same time, one after another.

How does this lift work? It is made of 11 footplates attached to a wire rope, and works pretty much the way a ski lift works. Riders place their right foot onto an approaching footplate, shift their body weight onto this footplate and then let the lift bring them and their bicycles all the way up to the top. Apparently, people with scooters and baby stroller can also use the lift.

If you’re considering booking a ticket to go see the CycloCable yourself, you’re not the only one – apparently, the lift is already a tourist magnet.