The concept of combining the efficiency and personal convenience of a bicycle with the infrastructure and range of the railroad dates back to the late 1800s. “Railbikes were once used by railroad companies for track checking, moving workers at work sites as well as going for assistance when the locomotives broke down.” Railbikes and man powered rail riders are an outside the box recycling concept we recently came across on the web. Thousands of miles of decommissioned and abandoned rail lines exist throughout the states. Through permit permission from the rail line owners anyone can enjoy this mode of transportation. These rails can be put back to use for the enjoyment of the general public through the sport of railbiking. Railbikes can even be made using old bicycles by attaching outriggers and flanged wheels to keep the bike or the rail surface. With no balance required and endless miles of track out there this is a great sport that takes advantage of in place infrastructure and materials.

Photo: © Railbike (www.railbike.com)