# What are these devices (two very steep ramps on the side of the road in Russia) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 26, 2026, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-devices-two-very-steep-ramps-on-the-side-of-the-road-in-russia/1028009 "2026-02-26T16:44:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2026, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-devices-two-very-steep-ramps-on-the-side-of-the-road-in-russia/1028009/1 "2026-02-26T16:44:20Z")
They’re only on the screen for a fraction of a second, but [note the two very steep ramps](https://youtu.be/Y2mwuxFIZNQ?si=Ok8UGUtRrDuczrxD&t=320) by the left side of the street as the driver enters the parking lot. I don’t anticipate anyone driving their car up one of those – the arc is so steep that the car will bottom out. Any idea what this is about? ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2026, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-devices-two-very-steep-ramps-on-the-side-of-the-road-in-russia/1028009/2 "2026-02-26T17:05:36Z")
Not sure, but I’ve geolocated it if you want to get a closer look: 54.988453, 73.235037 The parking lot is for a VW dealership/service center. ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2026, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-devices-two-very-steep-ramps-on-the-side-of-the-road-in-russia/1028009/3 "2026-02-26T17:10:38Z")
On closer look I’d bet it’s a “test drive” ramp for VW AWD vehicles. Jeep does something similar at auto shows to show off their vehicle’s offroad capabilities. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2026, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-devices-two-very-steep-ramps-on-the-side-of-the-road-in-russia/1028009/4 "2026-02-26T17:12:20Z")
Or possibly a place to display cars in an attention getting manner. ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2026, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-devices-two-very-steep-ramps-on-the-side-of-the-road-in-russia/1028009/5 "2026-02-26T17:15:14Z")
That too. Or both! ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2026, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-devices-two-very-steep-ramps-on-the-side-of-the-road-in-russia/1028009/6 "2026-02-26T17:47:21Z")
I’ve seen Land Rover putting their 4WD cars over an arrangement of ramps like that. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2026, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-devices-two-very-steep-ramps-on-the-side-of-the-road-in-russia/1028009/7 "2026-02-26T17:55:40Z")
Whatever they are, they were put there between Sep 2017 and Jul 2018 ! ---
**Author:** ![Humbagger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/db5fbb/32.png) [@Humbagger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Humbagger)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2026, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-devices-two-very-steep-ramps-on-the-side-of-the-road-in-russia/1028009/8 "2026-02-26T18:47:42Z")
I’m certain that must be it. You can also see turnpikes at both entries/exits. Likely to prevent anybody from attempting a fun ride. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2026, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-devices-two-very-steep-ramps-on-the-side-of-the-road-in-russia/1028009/9 "2026-02-27T11:47:54Z")
Before looking at the YouTube I thought ‘Runaway Truck Ramps’ But that ain’t it. Those would be a ‘Runaway Truck Launch’. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-devices-two-very-steep-ramps-on-the-side-of-the-road-in-russia/1028009/10 "2026-02-28T00:22:40Z")
> [@Dorjan](#): > > On closer look I’d bet it’s a “test drive” ramp for VW AWD vehicles There’s a gate at either end so ‘regulars’ can’t get there & there’s even a set of baby bumps at the far end. Given what I’ve seen elsewhere, I do believe you’re correct in that they are low-speed “look what our car can handle” test ramps ---
**Author:** ![md-2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@md-2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md-2000)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-devices-two-very-steep-ramps-on-the-side-of-the-road-in-russia/1028009/11 "2026-02-28T20:21:32Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Or possibly a place to display cars in an attention getting manner. This is my guess too. I see some sort of “park the car elevated nose up” displays in a few dealerships near me, but nothing like this steep. I would bet one car parked nose up on each side