Cycling down tramlines

[magnatom]

I'm just back from my hols, which was spent visiting the English half of the family (Lancashire and Shropshire).

This morning before heading back we took the kids into Blackpool for a wee ride on the donkeys. On the way across to the beach I was amazed by the number of cyclists that were cycling along the tram section of the road, in between the tramlines.

I'm not an expert in riding next to tramlines (none in Glasgow), but is this not particularly dangerous and stupid? I though bike wheels and tramlines were not a particularly good mix!

Oh well, Darwin at work!


As an aside, I was impressed with my first visit to Shropshire (Ludlow). Some great undulating roads to drive on, which I bet are even better to cycle on.

 

[andrew-the-tortoise]

I stay well clear of the Sheffield Supertram lines wherever possible. Got my back wheel stuck in one once, grazed my scrotum on the toptube as I slid off the seat

 

[purplepolly]

I though bike wheels and tramlines were not a particularly good mix!

but still a better mix than riding along the tramlines when a tram is catching up behind.

 

[skrx]

If you're careful to only cross the rails at steep angles it's presumably not a problem, but still, it's one more thing to be concentrating on.

 

[magnatom]

If you're careful to only cross the rails at steep angles it's presumably not a problem, but still, it's one more thing to be concentrating on.

One of the cyclists I was watching crossed at a VERY shallow angle. As I say, Darwin at work.

 

[magnatom]

Not really, lean back on the bike as you cross or pull a small wheelie to take the front wheel over the tramline. As long as you have drive going through the rear wheel you should not have any problems with the rear going over either.

Or you could learn to bunny hop....

Not this chap though. I hate the term, but POB seemed pretty apt.

 

[magnatom]

Get off your high horse Mag!

Not a high horse!


Remember I was in Blackpool. I was on a high donkey wearing a Kiss Me Quick hat!

 

[Crackle]

Did you see the lights?

 

[magnatom]

Did you see the lights?

Only in the daylight. Kids go to bed before the lights go on.

I spent most of the holiday in Shropshire and the surrounding area which was very nice. Quite impressed with the Midlands Safari Park!

 

[buddha]

A poor excuse for a cycle lane follows the tram lines just past East Croydon (south london) clicky. At this point you feel relatively safe riding between the curb and the tram line.
A little further ahead is a tram stop. See the tiny gap between the tram line and the high kerb of the stop! clicky.

I once (stupidly) got my tyres 'stuck' in the track groove here but somehow managed to side bunny hop out of it I've seen a few come off here trying to cross the tram line to avoid the narrow gap.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

I went over the bars once on the tramlines near Wolverhampton. The thought process was something like:

"Hmmmm. I'm going too fast to cross those lines at such a shallow angle, and I can't get a more oblique angle because of the kerb and the pedestrian fencing."

"I'll probably fall off and hurt myself."

...

"Right, here goes!"

The fence is still bent from where I hit it with my shoulder and head, and I've still got the scars.

 

[Bman]

Just a thought, but maybe the road surface between the tracks is better than the rest of the road. i.e. less worn?

 

[Sheepy1209]

OK, here goes. I live in Cleveleys (north of Blackpool) and commute most days to St Annes (south of Blackpool). Unless the wind's excessive I go straight down the seafront as it's a good flat traffic-free route most of the way. I'm happy to use the road and often do, but the promenade in good weather is rather pleasant so why not use it?

Between North and Central Piers there's loads of reconstruction work going on so the promenade is shut, leaving a footpath which at some points is only a couple of feet wide. It's impractical to share this with pedestrians so most cyclists hop over to the tram tracks for this stretch. Indeed at busy times pedestrians also walk down the tracks.

Trams on this section barely travel above walking pace, precisely because they're sharing with pedestrians and cyclists. The danger of collision with a tram is therefore tiny - these aren't fast modern trams like in Sheffield or Croydon.

The risk of catching a wheel in the track is of course very real and there have been incidents - but remember most of the cyclists are locals who've grown up with trams and are less likely to get caught out.

There is a parallel road and when I first started commuting I felt the road would be the best place - however, this seems to attract particularly aggressive driving so the tram tracks are probably the safest place to be.

It's not the surface - for most of this stretch the 'four-foot' is covered with paving slabs which make for a pretty rough ride.

There seems to be a tacit acceptance of cyclists on the tram tracks, whereas before the work was started it would never have been tolerated. I hope once the work's done that the authorities stop it happening, as some people will have got into the habit. It does worry me that there'll be a serious accident, but like I say the tram drivers are very aware indeed.

Please don't assume it's Darwinism in action - there are very good reasons why we do it!

 

[threebikesmcginty]

My dad has mentioned, in the past, about getting his bicycle wheel stuck in the tramlines in Grimsby in the 40s and going straight over the handlebars!!!

 

[BSA]

I live in Sheffield and I hate the tram tracks. I try my best to avoid them if possible. The ones the cross at 90 degrees are ok its the long sweeping ones that are much more difficult to get the appropiate angle.

Last year I avoided my usual route because of ice and stayed on the main road. I tried to cross the sweeping tram tracks and got it all wrong! I tried lifting the front wheel but somehow ended up landing the wheel in the track. It was thrown of the bike, luckily I had just set off from the lights so traffic was not going fast.

I still bent my front wheel and damaged my shoulder. Luckily I rolled well and managed not to damage my works laptop in the rucksack on my back!

Fear the tracks....