6 ms·

Normally I would 2nd this, but it does not apply on this particular 4x4 road. It really sucks when opposing traffic appears as it's barely wide enough for 1 veh

by tunap 10y ago

Normally I would 2nd this, but it does not apply on this particular 4x4 road. It really sucks when opposing traffic appears as it's barely wide enough for 1 vehicle in most parts: The road gains 800 vertical feet (243.84 m) in 0.6 miles (0.9 km) at a 25% average grade, with steeper grades in sections. This is a paved public road but it is open only to 4 wheel drive vehicles. It is the steepest road of its length in the United States. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waipio_Valley https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waipio_Valley

anexprogrammer 10y ago
That doesn't seem that bad for normal traffic, conditions permitting - unless the steeper gradients are markedly so. I'm sure they have their reasons for 4wd only though - picking too many tourists out of the ditches or whatever. There's quite a few roads in the UK with 1:4 gradient, and one just down the road from me at 1:3 whose only restriction is no trucks and vans. Going downhill on the motorbike makes it feel like you're falling off! :) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardknott_Pass https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardknott_Pass
- Doctor_Fegg 10y ago
  There are roads in Spain with 1:4 gradient, too. 200 of the world's best cyclists rode up some of them in today's stage of the Vuelta a Espana. I'm no slouch cycling up hills but my jaw dropped seeing today's footage...
- abraae 10y ago
  Here in New Zealand we lay claim to the steepest street in the world at 1:2.86 gradient https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baldwin_Street https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baldwin_Street. There's an annual charity event that involves the rolling of over 30,000 Jaffas (spherical confectionery-coated chocolate confectionery) down the hill.
  - markdown 10y ago
    How have I not heard of this event? Sounds similar to (and less dangerous than) cheese rolling.
chiph 10y ago
They have a sign now - no AWD allowed. Super steep road. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xGp5anlXSA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xGp5anlXSA
irahul 10y ago
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xGp5anlXSA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xGp5anlXSA The video posted in another comment doesn't look that bad. I am not sure about the grade, but one of the Bangalore's weekend gateway has some steep sections(a low average grade but some sections are steep). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0_MyaPzM88 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0_MyaPzM88 That footage is from a rally but every weekend, fwd cars with 800/1000cc engines and a peak torque of about 70 Nm do it just fine. Most of the cars have 2-5 occupants decreasing the already low torque/kg, and almost the whole climb is done in a bumper to bumper traffic(no momentum for the climb). https://dc-cdn.s3-ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/dc-Cover-nj6b51d5e29oa2jjbblq8jgdn7-20160209043434.Medi.jpeg https://dc-cdn.s3-ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/dc-Cover-nj6b...

by tunap 10y ago

anexprogrammer 10y ago

That doesn't seem that bad for normal traffic, conditions permitting - unless the steeper gradients are markedly so. I'm sure they have their reasons for 4wd only though - picking too many tourists out of the ditches or whatever. There's quite a few roads in the UK with 1:4 gradient, and one just down the road from me at 1:3 whose only restriction is no trucks and vans. Going downhill on the motorbike makes it feel like you're falling off! :) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardknott_Pass https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardknott_Pass

Doctor_Fegg 10y ago
There are roads in Spain with 1:4 gradient, too. 200 of the world's best cyclists rode up some of them in today's stage of the Vuelta a Espana. I'm no slouch cycling up hills but my jaw dropped seeing today's footage...
abraae 10y ago
Here in New Zealand we lay claim to the steepest street in the world at 1:2.86 gradient https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baldwin_Street https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baldwin_Street. There's an annual charity event that involves the rolling of over 30,000 Jaffas (spherical confectionery-coated chocolate confectionery) down the hill.
- markdown 10y ago
  How have I not heard of this event? Sounds similar to (and less dangerous than) cheese rolling.

chiph 10y ago

They have a sign now - no AWD allowed. Super steep road. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xGp5anlXSA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xGp5anlXSA

irahul 10y ago

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xGp5anlXSA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xGp5anlXSA The video posted in another comment doesn't look that bad. I am not sure about the grade, but one of the Bangalore's weekend gateway has some steep sections(a low average grade but some sections are steep). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0_MyaPzM88 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0_MyaPzM88 That footage is from a rally but every weekend, fwd cars with 800/1000cc engines and a peak torque of about 70 Nm do it just fine. Most of the cars have 2-5 occupants decreasing the already low torque/kg, and almost the whole climb is done in a bumper to bumper traffic(no momentum for the climb). https://dc-cdn.s3-ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/dc-Cover-nj6b51d5e29oa2jjbblq8jgdn7-20160209043434.Medi.jpeg https://dc-cdn.s3-ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/dc-Cover-nj6b...