If they can work out intersections and the waiting-in-line issues, this could be great:

http://gizmodo.com/5447279/kolelinia-lets-you-ride-your-bicycle-ove...

http://kolelinia.com/en/


Kolelinia Lets You Ride Your Bicycle Over the Air
Kolelinia—a system that allows you to ride your bike above the traffic—looks like a crazy idea until you check out the engineering behind it. Then you will realize that it's not only cool, but it can work too.

Here's how it works.

Kolelinia has two elements, a half-pipe—this is where your bike's wheels run—and a cable above that pipe. The cable is at the same height as your bike's handles, and it provides stability and safety while you fly over the cars. The cable connects to the bike's handle using a special hooking device. This divoce also has a hole for a carabiner, so you can use a harness and safety line for extra safety.

On first sight, it looks like the props for a circus act. But unlike in the circus, Kolelinia doesn't involve any risk thanks to the safety cable system. It may seem convoluted, but it's actually quite simple, and a much better and safer option than having to deal with the dangers of traffic, or flying with stranded extra-terrestrial beings. [Kolelinia via ArchDaily]

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It seems like it works pretty well. I think how ever I'd prefer just to ride my bike on the ground and have the money be spent on forcing people to drive safer and smarter... or less/not at all :D
I think people want safer roads, not scary looking personal monorails floating above the streets. I'd give a try though. Looks fun
No fights with motorists? Where's the fun in that?
Willow, you've been spending too much time around Garth!
I would say just enough!

John said:
Willow, you've been spending too much time around Garth!
"The cable connects to the bike's handle using a special hooking device."

Ummm....first you need to create bikes with handles (or learn how to proofread!)

-And now to be serious-

What happens if you have a safety harness on and you fall off? Would cyclists falling off this thing be the new cat stuck in a tree? Having to call the fire department to get you down would cause more traffic congestion than just riding in traffic.

And what if part of your bike breaks while riding on it? How exactly would you get down? "Hello, fire department, my cat isn't stuck in a tree, but I am."

What's wrong with divided bike lanes like they have in Perth, etc?!!!
Tank-Ridin' Ryan said:
"The cable connects to the bike's handle using a special hooking device."

Ummm....first you need to create bikes with handles (or learn how to proofread!)

Just as importantly, what happens to the poor hipsters that have chopped their handlebars to something that is just wide enough to grab. Why won't they think of the hipsters?

Thank you S. I hadn't even considered the poor hipsters. Maybe they'll have to get some brakes and some shifters and some non-mangled handle(bar)s.

S said:
Tank-Ridin' Ryan said:
"The cable connects to the bike's handle using a special hooking device."

Ummm....first you need to create bikes with handles (or learn how to proofread!)

Just as importantly, what happens to the poor hipsters that have chopped their handlebars to something that is just wide enough to grab. Why won't they think of the hipsters?

agreed!

John said:
Willow, you've been spending too much time around Garth!
It looks like the system would mainly be used to go over very large intersections, up to a bike path, or a trail that is just a shortcut. I could see this working in special cases but not in creating something that bypasses all road travel.
This is probably the dumbest, most impractical idea anyone has ever had and yet... it's so damned cool. I'm just imagining Columbus Drive strung up with three lanes' worth of these things and it honestly seems like the best use of non-existent metals and extremely expensive liability insurance I can think of, no lie. Off to commission an installation for Latveria!
Let's see. First, who's to say there would only be cyclists up there. It would have to be shared with squirrels, drunken frat boys, tennis shoes, photography students with view cameras, and Kate Winslet-wannabes. Second, if you think its breezy when the wind funnels down the canyons of a street, it is generally windier the higher off the ground you are, as any racing sailor knows. And third, motorists would never allow cyclists the advantage or the opportunity to defecate from on high.

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