This is the World’s First Suspended Bicycle Roundabout

[NixM]

Full article here: http://twistedsifter...ut-netherlands/

 

 

http://twistedsifter.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/worlds-first-suspended-bicycle-roundabout-hovenring-by-ipv-delft-netherlands-1.jpg

 

Hovenring is the world’s first suspended bicycle path roundabout. Located in the Netherlands (where else?), Hovenring can be found between the localities of Eindhoven, Veldhoven and Meerhoven which accounts for its name, Dutch for “Ring of the Hovens“.

Designed by Ipv Delft, Hovenring comprises of a 70-metre (230 ft) tall central pylon, 24 steel cables and a circular bridge deck made out of circa approximately 1,000 tons of steel. The cables are attached to the inner side of the bridge deck, right where the bridge deck connects to the circular, concrete counter weight. This helps prevent torsion within the 72-metre (236 ft) diameter bridge deck. To further ensure stability, concrete was added to sections of the bridge deck along with M-shaped supports near the approach spans.

Construction started on 11 February 2011 and the new crossing first opened on 30 December 2011 but had to closed shortly thereafter due to unexpected vibrations in the cables caused by wind. After extensive research by structural experts, two types of dampers (high frequency and low frequency) were attached to the cables to resolve the vibration issues. The Hovenring officially reopened to the public on 29 June 2012.

http://twistedsifter.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/worlds-first-suspended-bicycle-roundabout-hovenring-by-ipv-delft-netherlands-11.jpg

[Jigghead]

Only in The Netherlands. Love it. These guys take their cyclists seriously. If this was in Jozi, it wouldn't take too long for a taxi to take out the central support column

 

Can't understand though, with a country known for its windmills, one would assume wind would be common and therefore accounted for in the original design?

Edited February 19, 2014 by Jigghead

[Dazshell]

Only in The Netherlands. Love it. These guys take their cyclists seriously. If this was in Jozi, it wouldn't take too long for a taxi to take out the central support column

 

Can't understand though, with a country known for its windmills, one would assume wind would be common and therefore accounted for in the original design?

And with all the cable theft, wouldn't be suspended for long!

[DJR]

I wish the Dutch would take over the whole world!

[Guest Latent Blue]

I wish the Dutch would take over the whole world!

 

Didn't they try and colonise some bits of africa at some point? :whistling:

[EdGe]

Totally awesome!! *packs bags for The Netherlands*

[Cyclewizz]

That would be a short cut for our taxis.

 

[Capricorn]

beautiful design, and pretty logical given that its easier to suspend the reduced mass than raise the motorized roadway.

[rudi-h]

They only suspended it so that they can have a hill to ride...

[marko35s]

I would ride to work just to be able to go over that.