This is a photo from two years ago, i stood there for a good minute wondering how the hell and why this weird cycle path was there. It is in southern France, on the climb to Col d’Ecre, bit north of Nice.

Take a guess, i finally fully understand.

      • AchtungDrempels@lemmy.worldOP
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        3 months ago

        Now that i have found this, i kinda want to go back and collect the cols, haha.

        Seems like quite some people snap a pic of themselves there. Not sure if it’s the best way to spend money on cycling infrastructure, but i think it’s a fun little project, i like it.

      • AchtungDrempels@lemmy.worldOP
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        3 months ago
        SPOILER

        Maybe i was exaggerating when i said i fully understand it. There is this Cols Connectes thing from the department alpes maritimes where climbing a col is being gamified, to collect the cols and take the times, upload photos. And this infra is part of it, taking a photo. Maybe there is are also stations like this at the bottom and top, for the timing, but i did not see them if they were there. But i also rode some of the other cols and did not notice anything like it either, but apparently it’s there.

        Just today i clicked on the deeplink to the cameras. https://www.cols-connectes06.fr/consultez-les-photos.htm I don’t know ho to reach this from their website.

        I knew this infra was somehow part of “cols connetces”, but did not really understand what it did, i had asked it before in the french cycling subreddit.

      • flug@midwest.social
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        3 months ago

        Or a simple bicycle counter - authorities are interested to know how many cyclists are using this route and at what times of day etc.

      • flug@midwest.social
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        3 months ago

        Hmm, something like a chip timing station so you can time your climb?

        Presumably there would be similar ones at the bottom and top also, and perhaps at other points along the way.

        • AchtungDrempels@lemmy.worldOP
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          3 months ago

          Wait a second. There might be something further down and up the hill that i have not fully understood yet, so this could also be a timing machine, i am not sure. It’s not the function that i’m looking for though.

        • AchtungDrempels@lemmy.worldOP
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          3 months ago

          No timing, but this is getting close. There is nothing further down this climb, but this infra apparently also exists on a few other climbs in the area.

          I have posted the solution already, but you can keep playing.

      • flug@midwest.social
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        3 months ago

        Perhaps to turn on something like ‘Bicycles ahead’ warning lights for an upcoming section with poor visibility, or a tunnel or similar.

      • atocci@lemmy.world
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        3 months ago

        Some sort of service station? Maybe there’s an air pump and various tools in that box?

  • flug@midwest.social
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    3 months ago

    A pullout area to allow backed up vehicles to pass?

    It’s strange that it’s on the downhill side and not the uphill, though!

    Other guesses: Brake check area (stop and let brakes cool…); U-turn area as we sometimes see for the ‘j-turn’ configuration; The pullout is for uphill cyclists but they have to make a u-turn to use it.

      • flug@midwest.social
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        3 months ago

        It is on the uphill side.

        Aha, now I see.

        Further guesses: Place to pull over and rest; Place for cyclists to make a U turn - perhaps just before a particularly steep or difficult section.

        • AchtungDrempels@lemmy.worldOP
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          3 months ago

          No. Why is there an internet connection? What else is there?

          I posted the solution but you can keep playing if you want.

  • tiredofsametab@kbin.run
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    3 months ago

    device/battery/bike charger?

    Edit: or emergency phone, maybe; we have a similar thing on the Japanese expressway system with phones.