This Elevator Alternative Would Let You Bike Up Skyscrapers

A vertical transportation concept from Elena Larriba gives the phrase "biking to work" a new meaning. As Dezeen reports, the project from the Royal College of Art graduate, dubbed Vycle, reimagines the elevator as a compact, ascending bicycle powered by a single rider.

When Larriba looked at high-rise buildings, she saw two means for navigating them: stairs and elevators. Stairwells take up valuable real estate, while elevators eat energy to move what’s often a small load. She designed Vycle as an efficient alternative.

Vycle looks like a scaled-down version of a traditional bicycle complete with pedals, a seat, and handlebars. Passengers start pedaling to ascend the vertical rail connected to the back of the bike. They can take a quick or leisurely ride based on how hard they push themselves.

It’s hard to imagine the concept replacing elevators in multi-story office buildings, but one area where it might be practical is construction. The rig is cheap and adaptable, which means it could be a temporary installation on the outside of cranes and scaffolding. Biking up multiple stories would also be easier on older workers than climbing a ladder the same distance.

As cities become more dense, designers are coming up with creative ways to make the most of tight spaces, from pop-out windows to foldable sports facilities. You can see Larriba’s invention in action below.

vycle - urban vertical movement from Elena Larriba on Vimeo.