| Trampe bicycle lift |
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|---|---|
| Location: | Trondheim, Norway |
| Built: | 1993 |
| Builder: | Design Management AS |
| Gradient: | 20% (1:5) |
| Length: | 130m |
| Speed: | 2m/s (7.4km/h) |
| Propulsion: | Electric |
The Trampe bicycle lift (Norwegian: Sykkelheisen Trampe) is the first, and currently only, bicycle lift in the world. The prototype was built in 1993 in Trondheim, and it is still in service as of 2005. Trampe is a Norwegian verb meaning "to stomp".
To use the Trampe, a keycard (see picture) has to be bought or rented. Buying and renting keycards both costs 100 kroner, but the fee is refunded when renting. The card gives unlimited numbers of use.
When using the lift, the right foot is placed on the starting point (the left foot stays on the bicycle pedal), the keycard is inserted in the card reader and one pushes the start button. After a few seconds, the user is pushed forward and a footplate emerges. A common mistake among tourists and other first-time users is that they don't keep their right leg outstretched and their body tilted forward. This makes it hard to maintain balance on the footplate, and can result in falling off.
In the summer months, the Trampe is used extensively by both commuting inhabitants of Trondheim and tourists with rented keycards.
Teenagers sometimes ride (balance on) the footplate without a bicycle, for fun.
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