A design competition for a new cycle bridge over a Lisbon roadway engendered at least one whimsical response, and it’s something that we can definitely get behind. .  .er, or over.

Portuguese architects tiago barros + jorge pereira envisioned a novel solution that puts peds and bike riders safely out of the way of traffic, and removes the need for time-wasting traffic signals. Instead, they propose a high-speed ramp that would let cars leap over the cross-walk like so many General Lees.

The benefits to this configuration are manyfold, for both driver and pedestrian/cyclist. Not only does the crossing not impede traffic, but by requiring a sufficient launch velocity to cross the span, it would actually would improve traffic flow! In addition to pedestrian right of ways, this has application for freeway transitions, railroad crossings and school zones.
Now, there of course will be naysayers, claiming the dangerous potential for spilled cups of Estrelabucks and the increased traffic due to the soccer moms whose carloads of progeny demand repeated jumps on the way to practice. But just imagine if Christian Pfeiffer used this route on his way to work?

Source: [design boom]