Trampe CycloCable: The World’s First Bicycle Lift

In Trondheim, Norway, cyclists have an unusual way to tackle a steep hill: instead of getting off the bicycle and pushing, they can use a small mechanical lift built into the road. Known as the Trampe Bicycle Lift and later as CycloCable, this remarkable piece of cycling infrastructure helps cyclists climb Brubakken more easily.

The Trampe CycloCable bicycle lift carries cyclists up the steep Brubakken hill in Trondheim, Norway

The original Trampe opened in 1993, becoming the world's first elevator designed specifically for cyclists. It carried riders about 130 metres up the steep Brubakken hill, near the historic centre of Trondheim. More than 220,000 cyclists used the original lift before an improved system replaced it in 2013.

Today, the Trampe CycloCable remains one of Trondheim's most unusual landmarks. However, there is an important current update: Trondheim Municipality states that the bicycle lift is closed until further notice in 2026, and it is not currently clear when it will reopen.

What Is the Trampe CycloCable?

The Trampe CycloCable is essentially a bicycle lift built into a steep street. Rather than carrying a complete bicycle and rider inside a conventional elevator, the system uses a moving footplate that pushes the cyclist uphill. The idea sounds simple, but it solves a very practical problem. Trondheim has several steep streets, and Brubakken is particularly challenging for people riding conventional bicycles.

The lift begins near the bottom of Brubakken and climbs toward the area below Kristiansten Fortress. According to Trondheim Municipality, the lift is approximately 130 metres long and represents a vertical climb comparable to the height of a ten-storey building. For a visitor interested in unusual transportation, this invention seems almost obvious once you see it in action.

The World's First Bicycle Lift

The story of the Trampe Bicycle Lift goes back to 1993. It was developed as a way of encouraging cycling in Trondheim by making a difficult uphill section easier to negotiate. The Guinness World Records recognises the Trampe Bicycle Lift as the first elevator for cyclists, with the original installation opening in Trondheim in 1993. Guinness also records the lift's route as approximately 130 metres along Brubakken, which has a gradient of about one in five. The project was unusual enough to attract international attention. Trondheim's own cycling strategy later described Trampe as both a useful facility for cyclists and an international attraction for the city.

Why Was Trampe Built?

The purpose was more practical than spectacular. Cycling is an efficient way to travel around a city, but steep hills can discourage people from using bicycles for everyday journeys. The answer was simple: Help cyclists up one particularly demanding hill without having them dismount. That was the Trampe lift.

In this sense, the invention was something more than a tourist curiosity. This was part of Trondheim’s efforts to make cycling a more convenient way of transportation. In its first two decades, many people used the system. In 2013, the city’s cycling strategy stated that the original Trampe had carried over 220,000 cyclists.

First Image credit: D N A

Image credit: Nancyroof

How Does the Trampe Bicycle Lift Work?

The mechanism is surprisingly straightforward. A cyclist positions the right foot on a small moving footplate while keeping the other foot on the bicycle pedal. Once the system starts, the footplate moves along a narrow track, pushing both the cyclist and the bicycle uphill. Guinness World Records describes the original system as carrying riders along the 130-metre route at nearly 5 mph (8 km/h). Another Guinness record entry gives the lift's length as approximately 128 metres (420 feet) and its speed as around 2 metres per second.

The technique requires some balance. Trondheim Municipality explains that first-time users sometimes make the mistake of allowing the footplate to push them rather than supporting themselves properly on it. That makes the Trampe rather different from a normal passenger elevator. The cyclist stays on the bicycle throughout the journey.

Image credit: Pammie76

From Trampe to CycloCable

The original bicycle lift eventually needed major attention. According to Trondheim Municipality, the original system was closed in 2010 because of safety concerns and wear. It was dismantled in 2012, and a new and improved version called CycloCable was introduced in June 2013. The replacement was designed to continue the same basic idea while meeting modern safety requirements.

The transition is important when discussing the attraction, as the names 'Trampe' and 'CycloCable' are often used interchangeably. Historically, however, Trampe refers to the original bicycle lift, while CycloCable is the improved system that replaced it. According to the city’s official records, the new lift was back in service in 2013.

Where Is the Trampe Bicycle Lift?

The Trampe CycloCable is located on Brubakken in Trondheim, Norway, close to the historic city centre and the route to Kristiansten Fortress. Its location makes sense when you understand the terrain. Brubakken is a steep climb, and the lift helps cyclists overcome this difficult section.

For anyone researching the attraction before travelling, it is worth checking the official Trondheim Municipality information about Trampe because operating conditions can change. The municipality currently reports that the lift is closed until further notice in 2026.

Image credit: roarlor1

Why Is the Trampe CycloCable Famous?

There are bicycle paths, bike escalators, and mechanical transport systems in different parts of the world, but Trampe became famous because of its pioneering role. It was created decades before cycling infrastructure became such a prominent subject in urban planning discussions. Its greatest distinction is simple: Trondheim built the world's first elevator specifically for cyclists.

The invention also demonstrates that cycling infrastructure does not always have to mean another lane or a painted cycle path. Sometimes the most effective solution is mechanical. That is what makes the Trampe CycloCable so interesting. It is simultaneously a transportation device, an engineering curiosity and a piece of Trondheim's cycling history.

Image credit: Eileen Bortey

Frequently Asked Questions

 

When was the Trampe Bicycle Lift built?

The original Trampe Bicycle Lift opened in 1993 in Trondheim, Norway. The Guinness World Records recognises it as the world's first elevator for cyclists.

How long is the Trampe CycloCable?

The bicycle lift is approximately 130 metres long, although Guinness also lists the lift itself at about 128 metres in its longest-bicycle-lift record.

Where is the Trampe bicycle lift located?

It is located on Brubakken in Trondheim, Norway, helping cyclists climb the steep route toward Kristiansten Fortress.

Is the Trampe CycloCable operating in 2026?

According to Trondheim Municipality's latest information, the bicycle lift is closed until further notice in 2026, and there is currently no confirmed reopening date.

How does the Trondheim bicycle lift work?

A cyclist places their right foot on a moving footplate while remaining on the bicycle. The mechanism then pushes the rider uphill along the track.

Image credit: Frances James

Image credit: ALPHOTOGROUP

Image credit: Kril

Image credit: Morten Oddvik

Image credit: mezod

The Trampe CycloCable follows the steep Brubakken route in Trondheim, where the world's first bicycle lift was introduced in 1993.

Image credit: Niels

Conclusion

The Trampe CycloCable is quite a strange sight if you have never seen a bicycle lift before. It was built in Trondheim to help cyclists get up the steep Brubakken hill without having to get off their bikes and walk.

The first Trampe lift opened in 1993 and became known as the world's first bicycle lift. The old system was eventually replaced by CycloCable in 2013. The newer lift works on the same basic idea, helping a cyclist make the climb with a small moving foot support.

The lift is closed currently, but the story behind it is still worth knowing. It was a simple answer to a simple problem: how do you make a steep hill easier for people on bicycles? Trondheim's answer was a bicycle lift, and that is what made Trampe so unusual.

References & Sources

• Guinness World Records — First elevator for cyclists
• Guinness World Records — Longest bicycle lift
• Trondheim Municipality — Trampe