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Bicycle ramps in city buses

Don't get stuck behind a bus, go through it
  (+7, -4)
(+7, -4)
  [vote for,
against]

When buses stop at a bus stop, they occupy the bicycle lane on the side of the street, blocking it. Usually, that is no problem, as there aren't that many bicycles, and fewer buses yet.

Occasionally, however, a bicycle and a bus are in the same area. The bus passes the bike, and then stops. The bike has to go into traffic to pass the bus. The cycle is repeated numerous times (the speed of city buses and commuter bicyclists is similar).

Here's the solution: As soon as the bus stops, two ramps are lowered, one at the front of the bus and one at the back of the bus. This allows the bicyclist to ride up the rear ramp, into the back of the bus, down the aisle, out the front of the bus, back down the front ramp, a quickly distance himself/herself from the bus.

This will improve the safety of the bicyclist, who will no longer need to go into traffic to pass the bus, and will be convenient to the bus, who will no longer have to keep on passing the bike.

DavideAndrea, Dec 18 2009

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       I foresee no problems whatsoever with implementing this.
MaxwellBuchanan, Dec 18 2009
  

       Me neither.
oxen crossing, Dec 19 2009
  

       Just make the ramp up to the top of the bus. The cyclist can stay there for a short rest before the next stop.   

       As long as there aren't any low bridges anyway.
MechE, Dec 19 2009
  

       Why can't the cyclist carry his/her own ramp ? or pole.
FlyingToaster, Dec 19 2009
  

       I'm with MB and just as myopic.
po, Dec 19 2009
  

       Why lower and raise the ramps? If they were always down, then as the bus overtook the cyclist, it could just scoop them up like a snowplough, and spit them out the back. Presumably some kind of guide chute would make sure the cyclist was still upright and pointing forwards.
pocmloc, Dec 19 2009
  

       Too hard a climb for bicycles but a fun thing for motorcycles and a thrill to watch.
outloud, Dec 19 2009
  

       // This will improve the safety of the bicyclist //   

       Like, that's somehow a good thing ? [-]   

       Rather, one of those Acme Boxing-Glove-On-Scissor-Arm things, or a giant mallet .....
8th of 7, Dec 19 2009
  

       //. This allows the bicyclist to ride up the rear ramp, into the back of the bus, down the aisle, //
You mean the aisle, as in where 70% of the passengers are standing? [-]
AbsintheWithoutLeave, Dec 19 2009
  

       We would pay a dollar to see that ...
8th of 7, Dec 19 2009
  

       A large counterweighted arm mounted on a central pivot on the top of the bus could pick up the approaching cyclist and swing them around to the front. The problem of being dragged through approaching traffic might need to be addressed but it's a good starting point.
tatterdemalion, Dec 19 2009
  

       Perhaps a series of cups, like a bucket excavator?   

       Or, you could ride the Swiss Army Bike, and use the ocy-acetylene torch attachment to slice the bus in half lengthwise, and nip through before the two halves crash together again.   

       //Scissor-Arm// sp. lazy tongs?
pocmloc, Dec 19 2009
  

       So less park and ride, and more parkour-ride?
4whom, Dec 20 2009
  

       The sheer manic imagery behind this idea gets my vote ... [+]
Aristotle, Dec 20 2009
  

       Hm, after some consideration... instead of the pivoting arm on the top of the bus, it could act as a trebuchet, launching cyclists toward the front where they are caught in a large net.
tatterdemalion, Dec 20 2009
  

       // caught in a large net.//   

       ..... filled with angry porcupines.
8th of 7, Dec 20 2009
  

       I'd be more interested in a bicycle-mounted trebuchet capable of hurling a loaded bus
pocmloc, Dec 20 2009
  
      
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