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Europe’s Longest Bicycling Tunnel Opens in Norway

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11–20 of 250 posts

Re: Europe’s Longest Bicycling Tunnel Opens in Norway

#11

The best thing about pedestrian/cycling bridges and tunnels is that they cost soooo much less money to build since they have so much laxer requirements. The reason why we still have roman bridges standing is because the stress contribution of a human walking on it is basically zero. But start bringing in cars and trucks and see it crumble in a week

This is true. Road damage scales with the _fourth_ power of axle load.

Pedestrian and bike infra for majority of cases in dense areas is objectively better in all metrics except human laziness and entitlement

Re: Europe’s Longest Bicycling Tunnel Opens in Norway

#12

The best thing about pedestrian/cycling bridges and tunnels is that they cost soooo much less money to build since they have so much laxer requirements. The reason why we still have roman bridges standing is because the stress contribution of a human walking on it is basically zero. But start bringing in cars and trucks and see it crumble in a week

Eh, not exactly.

Pedestrians are heavier than cars in terms of pounds per square foot.

Bridges are designed for extreme loads, including pessimistic pattern loading, and the requirements for pedestrian bridges aren’t any less safety critical.

(edit: I designed this bridge: https://www.google.com/maps/@47.597616,-122.3297804,3a,75y,7...)

Re: Europe’s Longest Bicycling Tunnel Opens in Norway

#13

The best thing about pedestrian/cycling bridges and tunnels is that they cost soooo much less money to build since they have so much laxer requirements. The reason why we still have roman bridges standing is because the stress contribution of a human walking on it is basically zero. But start bringing in cars and trucks and see it crumble in a week

Citation needed. What about the type of concrete used, especially the limited lifetime of reinforced concrete?

Re: Europe’s Longest Bicycling Tunnel Opens in Norway

#14

The best thing about pedestrian/cycling bridges and tunnels is that they cost soooo much less money to build since they have so much laxer requirements. The reason why we still have roman bridges standing is because the stress contribution of a human walking on it is basically zero. But start bringing in cars and trucks and see it crumble in a week

[flagged]

Re: Europe’s Longest Bicycling Tunnel Opens in Norway

#16
post #5
post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It will cost an additional NOK 500 million to upgrade the tunnel from an emergency service to one that can be used daily. $46M USD, to save cyclists 5.5km/20 minutes; that seems like a pretty good return.

Indeed, if we assume cyclists use the tunnel 100 days a year going both ways through it, thats saving each one nearly 60+ hours a year. If each one's time is worth $20, that is over a thousand dollars per cyclist per year - it only takes 9k cyclists to make the savings outweigh the costs in five years.

[flagged]

Re: Europe’s Longest Bicycling Tunnel Opens in Norway

#17
post #6
post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Indeed, if we assume cyclists use the tunnel 100 days a year going both ways through it, thats saving each one nearly 60+ hours a year. If each one's time is worth $20, that is over a thousand dollars per cyclist per year - it only takes 9k cyclists to make the savings outweigh the costs in five years.

And assuming that this will increase the number of people who choose to bike instead of to drive, you can also add savings for all the remaining drivers who get a slightly easier commute.

And net reduced road maintenance and external costs coming for reduced car usage

Re: Europe’s Longest Bicycling Tunnel Opens in Norway

#18
post #6
post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Indeed, if we assume cyclists use the tunnel 100 days a year going both ways through it, thats saving each one nearly 60+ hours a year. If each one's time is worth $20, that is over a thousand dollars per cyclist per year - it only takes 9k cyclists to make the savings outweigh the costs in five years.

And assuming that this will increase the number of people who choose to bike instead of to drive, you can also add savings for all the remaining drivers who get a slightly easier commute.

And a healthier society (on the whole) as people are encouraged to cycle. Less diabetes, etc.

Re: Europe’s Longest Bicycling Tunnel Opens in Norway

#19
post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It will cost an additional NOK 500 million to upgrade the tunnel from an emergency service to one that can be used daily. $46M USD, to save cyclists 5.5km/20 minutes; that seems like a pretty good return.

Let's assume the saving of one life....

Okay. Taking the 20min saved per ride from the article, and 300 rides that would otherwise take the longer route per day out of my ass, we get 100 hours saved per day. That's approximately 4 days saved per day.

From https://www.fhi.no/en/op/hin/population/life-expectancy/, life expectancy in Norway is about 82 years.

Together, that means the tunnel will save one human life in about 20 years, not taking into account pedestrians, or indeed realistic usage numbers.

Re: Europe’s Longest Bicycling Tunnel Opens in Norway

#20
post #5
post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It will cost an additional NOK 500 million to upgrade the tunnel from an emergency service to one that can be used daily. $46M USD, to save cyclists 5.5km/20 minutes; that seems like a pretty good return.

Indeed, if we assume cyclists use the tunnel 100 days a year going both ways through it, thats saving each one nearly 60+ hours a year. If each one's time is worth $20, that is over a thousand dollars per cyclist per year - it only takes 9k cyclists to make the savings outweigh the costs in five years.

Why only 100d/y while Norwegian works around 190d/y? In my experience people tends to have a “main” commute mode that they only turn away from in exceptional cases. Easier to live with habits that mixing your timetables every other day.
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