Help the cyclist at the hill, not on every kilometre.
Instead of putting a motor on every bicycle, Trondheim put assistance into one steep hill. Trampe pushes a rider uphill on a moving footplate. The city currently lists it as closed until further notice.
NO NorwayIn practice. A historic Trondheim bicycle lift, first installed in 1993 and replaced in 2013. The municipality lists it closed until further notice in 2026.
What to keep in view
Trondheim’s April 2026 update gives no reopening date. This is an engineering case study, not a recommendation to visit a currently operating lift.
Put assistance at the shared obstacle
The installation uses a narrow track along Brubakken. A cyclist keeps one foot on the pedal while the other rests on a plate that supplies the uphill push. The 130-metre route was conceived by Jarle Wanvik. Its history includes replacement and periods out of service. The municipality’s 28 April 2026 update says the lift is closed until further notice, with no reopening date.
Put assistance at the common bottleneck rather than inside every individual vehicle.
A useful idea still needs reliable operation
Our reading: a short, difficult stretch can affect the usefulness of a much longer route. Trampe places assistance at that shared obstacle rather than requiring every user to acquire a different vehicle.
Read next.
Make the last metres of a cycle journey work.
The difficult part of a cycling journey may be at one location: the station entrance or a steep hill. Infrastructure can target that particular obstacle.
Give the beach a way in.
Both put assistance into a shared route. Compare a bicycle’s uphill push with a system that supports access to the sea.