Letter from Bodo

With -40 windchill this morning, I'm thinking these folks in Norway might be onto something. Bring on the bike tube.

The city of Bodø in the County of Nordland in northern Norway wants to become a bicycle city. NPRA and the municipal of Bodø have suggested to build in a foot and bicycle path between the College of Higher Education and the city centre to make cycling easier and more attractive.

Bodø is situated with the rough open sea right outside. With the slogan “Bodø in the wind” the city has created its image as a place of heavy weather. Nevertheless the citizens of Bodø often must stand heavy wind.

– Perhaps this is the reason for the low interest in using bicycle in the area, says Deputy Mayor Kirsten Hasvoll, who is happy for a possibility to neutralize windy weather.

Some years ago a glass roof was constructed over a part of the main street and the experience with the project was so positive, now the inhabitants of Bodø gladly look forward to the tube being built. The idea, which was introduced by the City Plan Director, Jørn Roar Moe, is to construct a framed structure covered with transparent plastic plates. The bicycle tube will have a number of roofed openings for
access and ventilation. There will also be internal illumination. The tube will hold physical separated roads for cyclists and pedestrians.

– The tube can be placed on the existing foot and bicycle path, but the best solution would be to construct it parallel to the existing foot and bicycle path, says Torbjørn Naimak, Regional Director, NPRA. The bicycle tube has to be ended before crossings or, if possible, be lead over or under the roadway. The project is at the starting line, but
has already passed its first milestone after consideration and decision in Bodø Town Council, which allocated EUR 12,500 to a preliminary study. But the road towards realization is long. However, before anybody can rejoice at indoor cycling in Bodø, the idea must be further developed on the paper. If the conclusion is positive a pilot model for
testing can be ready in 2008. The bicycle tube will cost approximately EUR 1,875 per metre. Consequently the 8 km long distance between the College of Higher Education and the city centre will cost about EUR 15 million.

– This is a manageable sum of money, and we think the idea is fully realizable, says Naimak.

OTT: The Raconteurs, Store Bought Bones