The Cyclocable
The cyclocable is a Norwegian invention designed to help bicyclists get up hills. It operates on the same principle as a ski lift. They've got one in Trondheim that's been working flawlessly since the early 1990s.
The inventors are now trying to sell the idea to hilly American cities like Pittsburgh. But there are two reasons why a sale is unlikely. First, precisely because Pittsburgh is hilly not many people there bicycle. Thus, there's not a lot of interest from the community. Second, it's America. So, liability issues.
The inventors are now trying to sell the idea to hilly American cities like Pittsburgh. But there are two reasons why a sale is unlikely. First, precisely because Pittsburgh is hilly not many people there bicycle. Thus, there's not a lot of interest from the community. Second, it's America. So, liability issues.
Comments
And tertian (had to look that word up!) is going to work on 350lbs of rider?
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 04/09/14 at 09:46 AM
As far as liability goes, are Europeans in general just more accepting of risk?
It looks no more dangerous than the rope tows at ski resorts that I've been to. In both cases, one must pay attention and be ready for the brakes in case of a slip.
It looks no more dangerous than the rope tows at ski resorts that I've been to. In both cases, one must pay attention and be ready for the brakes in case of a slip.
Posted by KDP on 04/09/14 at 02:18 PM
<quote>
As far as liability goes, are Europeans in general just more accepting of risk?
</quote>
No but the courts are so clogged up that if one doesn't get the suit started while in middle school the odds are that he'll have died of old age before it gets in front of a panel of judges.
As far as liability goes, are Europeans in general just more accepting of risk?
</quote>
No but the courts are so clogged up that if one doesn't get the suit started while in middle school the odds are that he'll have died of old age before it gets in front of a panel of judges.
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 04/09/14 at 11:31 PM
If I can't be taken there half drunk or high with a stop at McD's etc along the way count us 'mericans out of the idea.
Posted by BrokeDad in Midwest US on 04/09/14 at 11:38 PM
Courts clogged up. Maybe in Greece not here.
Posted by F.U.D. on 04/10/14 at 03:30 AM
KDP: In part it's that. We don't insist that everything that happens must be because there is one person who is completely and utterly responsible and negligent, and must be made to pay a hundred times damages plus several millions in contributory damages and mental aggravation damages, dozens of millions in civil damages, plus ten dollars in actual fines, just because he was stupid enough to provide a service for people to use and fall over on because they acted like morons. Generally, if someone provides a service in good faith and good maintenance, and you're dumb enough to wave your arms about and go and fall over on it, we consider that your fault, not the service's, unless said service is demonstrably dangerous.
In part it's, well, see contributary damages above. We don't have those, at least not to as ridiculous an extent as the USA does.
And in part (although this is really a combination of the two above) it's that when you do sue someone for damages, you usually get allotted only that part of the damages that was their fault, not your own. So if a cyclepath really should have been better maintained but you really should've had your headlamp on, you only get part of the cost of your bike repairs back (and may get fined for not cycling after dark without a light...)
And mostly it's that most of our lawyers are only somewhat evil servants of the Mammon.
Oh, and Expat: I don't think Norway has the Imperial system of jury courts.
In part it's, well, see contributary damages above. We don't have those, at least not to as ridiculous an extent as the USA does.
And in part (although this is really a combination of the two above) it's that when you do sue someone for damages, you usually get allotted only that part of the damages that was their fault, not your own. So if a cyclepath really should have been better maintained but you really should've had your headlamp on, you only get part of the cost of your bike repairs back (and may get fined for not cycling after dark without a light...)
And mostly it's that most of our lawyers are only somewhat evil servants of the Mammon.
Oh, and Expat: I don't think Norway has the Imperial system of jury courts.
Posted by Richard Bos on 04/10/14 at 10:09 AM
@Richard & F.U.D.: I'm in Greece! that's where y'all come when y'all want to run around naked and learn, 1st hand, what warm sunshine is all about. 😛
We thank you.
We thank you.
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 04/10/14 at 10:16 AM
Thanks, Bos. That was enlightening. It just seems that eventually everything will be covered in padding and bubble wrap to keep us safe from our own selves.
Posted by KDP on 04/10/14 at 01:05 PM
As long as you can avoid the car bombs
Posted by F.U.D. on 04/10/14 at 02:21 PM
Cool idea but too expensive to install.
Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 04/11/14 at 08:01 PM
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Category: Bicycles and Other Human-powered Vehicles