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A bicycle stairway is a pedestrian
Photo of a flat cross section
at a train station in Japan Stairways Cycling infrastructure Stairs {{cycling-stub
A bicycle stairway is a pedestrian stairway
Stairs are a structure designed to bridge a large vertical distance between lower and higher levels by dividing it into smaller vertical distances. This is achieved as a diagonal series of horizontal platforms called steps which enable passage ...
which also has a channel alongside it to facilitate walking a bicycle
A bicycle, also called a pedal cycle, bike or cycle, is a human-powered or motor-powered assisted, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A is called a cyclist, or bicyclist.
Bic ...
up or down the stairway.
The channel itself is also often called a wheeling ramp, push ramp or runnel. There is no standard in the dimensions, materials, or shape used in the channel, however the channel is intended to be sufficient to guide a variety of bicycle tires without binding or causing damage. Cross-section shapes vary, but are usually either nearly rectangular or V- or U-shaped. Depth is generally 2 to 6 cm (1 to 2.5 inches) and width 6 to 13 cm (2.5 to 5 inches). If the stairs do not turn and are relatively short, a flat cross section without sidewalls may suffice. The channel is an inclined plane
An inclined plane, also known as a ramp, is a flat supporting surface tilted at an angle from the vertical direction, with one end higher than the other, used as an aid for raising or lowering a load. The inclined plane is one of the six clas ...
within easy reach of someone using the stairs. There may be level portions for resting or passing. While most examples of existing bicycle stairs feature permanent or built-in channels, Oregon Health & Science University
Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) is a
public research university focusing primarily on health sciences with a main campus, including two hospitals, in Portland, Oregon. The institution was founded in 1887 as the University of Oregon Medi ...
has invested in the development of a modular, after-market, retrofitting "bicycle gutter" device that was awarded patents in 2011 and 2012.
Accessibility requirements for handrail
A handrail is a rail that is designed to be grasped by the hand so as to provide safety or support. In Britain, handrails are referred to as banisters. Handrails are usually used to provide support for body or to hold clothings in a bathroom or ...
s tend to conflict with bicycle stairways, as handrails may obstruct or decrease the control of a bicyclist using the channel. Suggestions for resolving the conflicts include providing a single handrail down the middle of the stairs with gutters at the outside edges, or placing handrails at both edges and placing the gutter in the middle. However, the Toronto Transit Commission
The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) is the public transport agency that operates bus, subway, streetcar, and paratransit services in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, some of which run into the Peel Region and York Region. It is the oldest and largest ...
is testing channels placed next to handrails. Some users have commented about the disadvantages, such as pedals catching on the stairs' handrail.
Bicycle stairways may have arisen in reaction to wear and compaction beside outdoor stairways where people preferred to roll their bicycle on smooth lawn or soil instead of carrying it or having it bump along the stairs.
See also
* Bicycle escalator (a powered version of a bicycle staircase) *Cycling infrastructure
Cycling infrastructure is all infrastructure cyclists are allowed to use. Bikeways include bike paths, bike lanes, cycle tracks, rail trails and, where permitted, sidewalks. Roads used by motorists are also cycling infrastructure, except whe ...
References
External links
Photo of a flat cross section
at a train station in Japan Stairways Cycling infrastructure Stairs {{cycling-stub