Downhill, on a sofa, on public roads (Madeira)

[yorkie]

The Monte Toboggans, in Funchal on the island of Madeira, are wicker sofas: a bit like the gondolas of Venice, only you're going downhill in regular traffic. More about them: https://www.carreirosdomonte.com/

0:10 ...Funchal, here, the capital of Madeira, has the basket carts.
0:14 They are wooden toboggans on smooth runners
0:17 that are powered by people in straw hats pushing them.
0:21 And, uh, there aren't any seatbelts.
0:24 From the start, they used the sledges to bring some wood
0:28 from the mountains to the town by the sea.
0:32 After that, they adapt for tourists....

I'm sure some of you will have already seen this video as I am sure we have plenty of Tom Scott subscribers here!

Has anyone experienced this for themselves?

 

[hexagon789]

I'm sure some of you will have already seen this video as I am sure we have plenty of Tom Scott subscribers here!

Has anyone experienced this for themselves?

No, but I've seen it featured in at least 3 different travel programmes now! Seems to be the "thing" to do in Madeira.

 

[Bertone]

Not for me, I used the cable car
……..and better views !

 

[S&CLER]

I did this just before Christmas 1996 and greatly enjoyed it.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Good fun, and the seating looks a tad more comfortable than that on a typical Class 700 train here in the UK.

 

[D1024]

I did this at the beginning of March It was good fun but very touristy orientated - you get photographed twice on the way down and then try to sell you the photos at the end. Not the cheapest of rides either - but you only live once!

 

[martinsh]

Sounds like something out of "Last of The Summer Wine" to me...

 

[High Dyke]

Sounds like something out of "Last of The Summer Wine" to me...

Here. About 24 minutes in.

 

[thejuggler]

Seen it a few times, but never done it. Beware of the taxis at the end of the descent, they will rip you off to take you back to the centre.

The local buses are cheaper and far more fun. On our first visit we stayed on the hillside on a very narrow street overlooking Funchal, yet four times an hour a single decker would somehow make its way down a street I struggled to drive a car on and they don't spare the horses.

 

[Randomer]

Saw it when I was there seemed very touristy, just before the fire that burnt down a lot of the hotel gardens, it made me too nervous to try it. Walked down a different way.

 

[peterblue]

I saw the video today as I'm also subscribed to Tom Scott. I checked the website out of curiosity afterwards - it's certainly not cheap at 25EUR single for 1 person!

 

[swt_passenger]

I think when I saw them back in the late 70s the chairs and runners were much shorter, there wasn’t the current high sided basket extending so far up in front of your feet?

Is it likely EU standards changed and added a crumple zone?

 

[AlterEgo]

Did this in the 2000s as it’s great fun!

 

[Jamesrob637]

We missed out on this back in 2019 (ex-partner and me)
Looked great fun though.

 

[Calthrop]

These things pre-dated, and way outlived, a form of competition which they had for a while: a metre-gauge steam rack railway, abandoned in 1943.

 

[CarltonA]

I think when I saw them back in the late 70s the chairs and runners were much shorter, there wasn’t the current high sided basket extending so far up in front of your feet?

I was told they used metal runners in the old days and they went faster then, eventually there was a serious accident and the chairs were modified. The wood is now in direct contact with the road. I went down in about 2005 and could smell the hot wood as we raced down the hill. I was too tight to cough up for the overpriced photo.

 

[philthetube]

I went there on a cruise about 20 years ago, we were advised on board not to take the trip because of the risk, we took the advice, someone else on our coach party went for it and one guy ended up with a broken arm.

 

[jamesst]

Do it if you get the chance, pricey but great fun!

 

[contrex]

When I was at Norwood Tech in the late 1960s, I think the traditional rag day stunt was to ride a piano down Knights Hill and hope to reach Norwood bus garage.