By Robert Emslie
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]
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Kamil Kaluski 
Ross Ballot
I see no problem with this, whatsoever. It, after all, the future. That be where the flyin' cars at, yo.
I see it as the future in the sense of 'Hey, a solution that actually fits our budget!'
I'd go ahead and have a steeply-banked overpass… trucks could still cross over safely, and it'd have the same hoontastic effect on faster traffic! Everyone wins, and homeless people have a roof to sleep under when they pass out beside the bike path.
No, but flying cars are!
<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2467/3974725302_bfa072c238.jpg">
<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3570/3974600629_14021fb0bb.jpg">
<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3366/3551784798_dda5d5cf7e.jpg">
<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3652/3570263227_f7469d6dc3.jpg">
(all of the above photos are from the TAP Rally of Portugal)
Seriously are you like 180 years old and just happend to spend the last 100 years traveling the world and taking pictures and video of race events? Cause you have access to the most amazing stuff.
Also in your last picture there, check out the camber curve of the rear wheels.
No, I'm not 180 years old. I've just got a TARDIS.
There are a lot of cool photos here but you have to dig around: http://www.forum-auto.com/sport-auto/theme40/debu… Be prepared to waste nearly as much time on that forum as you did on the MAT gallery.
I much prefer for scroggzilla find the best and most topical ones for posting at the Hooniverse. His archives are probably more organized than that forum.
What is that last picture? My brainpowers are slow this morning.
I approve.
Barros: What kind of car do you have?
Pereira: A 1965 Thunderbird.
Barros: Dang! You got shocks, V8… lucky! You ever take it off any sweet jumps?
Barros: [Cut to Pereira jumping] You got like three feet of air that time.
Hazzard has two Zs. For shame, Rob!
Sorry guys, damn spellchecker switched it on me and I didn't catch it. Fixed it there for ya'.
Well them Graverobber boys sure go in over their head with this here title… maybe its time they best be catching up on their ZZZZZZZ's….
see you next week… stay tuned for Conway Twitty
I was waiting for this. Didn't want to call him out, really.