Embras Killer Trams
- Thread starter MiK1138
- Start date
Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
Red17
Guru
- Location
- South London
I managed to go @rse over ### last week in Croydon trying to cross tram lines in the wet. Still suffering a damaged shoulder and quite a few bruises.
I don't go with the claims culture part of it though - as far as I am concerned I knew the lines were there so its down to me, and I've been even more cautious crossing them since.
I don't go with the claims culture part of it though - as far as I am concerned I knew the lines were there so its down to me, and I've been even more cautious crossing them since.
jonny jeez
Legendary Member
- Location
- Chislehurst, Kent, UK
I'm not local and the Nearest tram town to me is a few miles away.
But, on my regular commute into London (with a zillion other riders) I come across two expansion gaps on a road bridge, they each travel PARRALELL to the direction of flow and are a tyres width..perfect for trapping a rider and throwing them into the two lanes of heavy traffic.
I have reported to fill that hole and all the guys I know who ride this section seem to be aware...but new riders checking their shoulders will easily fall into them.
I am amazed nothing serious has happened so far.
My point is...sorry, there is one...that common sense goes out the window sometimes and local town planners rely on litigation to learn a lesson...or perhaps they measure success of cost saving by the amount of litigation.
So, join the compensation culture, it's the only way that planner will learn to plan roads that work for all, rather than roads that work for some.
But, on my regular commute into London (with a zillion other riders) I come across two expansion gaps on a road bridge, they each travel PARRALELL to the direction of flow and are a tyres width..perfect for trapping a rider and throwing them into the two lanes of heavy traffic.
I have reported to fill that hole and all the guys I know who ride this section seem to be aware...but new riders checking their shoulders will easily fall into them.
I am amazed nothing serious has happened so far.
My point is...sorry, there is one...that common sense goes out the window sometimes and local town planners rely on litigation to learn a lesson...or perhaps they measure success of cost saving by the amount of litigation.
So, join the compensation culture, it's the only way that planner will learn to plan roads that work for all, rather than roads that work for some.
Nottingham's long-delayed tram extensions will be the next to face litigation. Already plenty of cyclists have come off their bikes on the rails, some with nasty injuries, and the new lines aren't even running yet!
Some of the junctions have been designed so that it is impossible to not cross at a shallow angle unless you make a very unpredictable manoeuvre. The council's solution to make it safe for cyclists: putting some signs on a narrow and busy pavement with lots of shops and obstructions and calling it a 'cycle path'. Oh and putting a few posters up and making a patronising video telling cyclists to cross the tracks at a '90 degree' angle and wear a helmet.
And these tram lines catch out everyone, even experienced cyclists. It's ridiculous how many people I know who have come off on the rails (3 just in my family). If your front wheel goes across the track but your rear wheel doesn't follow and drops into the track then that's it, off you come with painful results.
Some of the junctions have been designed so that it is impossible to not cross at a shallow angle unless you make a very unpredictable manoeuvre. The council's solution to make it safe for cyclists: putting some signs on a narrow and busy pavement with lots of shops and obstructions and calling it a 'cycle path'. Oh and putting a few posters up and making a patronising video telling cyclists to cross the tracks at a '90 degree' angle and wear a helmet.
And these tram lines catch out everyone, even experienced cyclists. It's ridiculous how many people I know who have come off on the rails (3 just in my family). If your front wheel goes across the track but your rear wheel doesn't follow and drops into the track then that's it, off you come with painful results.
martint235
Dog on a bike
- Location
- Welling
Are they at New Cross Gate station?
shouldbeinbed
Rollin' along
- Location
- Manchester way
Several parts of the Manchester Metrolink run on roads and particularly Ashton New Road, criss crosses it making the damn things impossible to avoid. I had a leery moment a while back and have seen a few people picking themselves off the road.
"Some of the junctions have been designed so that it is impossible to not cross at a shallow angle unless you make a very unpredictable manoeuvre."
This is precisely the problem in Edinburgh. One in particular involves an unexpected manoeuver with lots of traffic accelerating away at the same time. Do they even put up any signs saying "Motorists please allow cyclists time and space to cross tram tracks"? Do they ****. It is all "Cyclists beware tram tracks" while everyone races to the next red light.
This is precisely the problem in Edinburgh. One in particular involves an unexpected manoeuver with lots of traffic accelerating away at the same time. Do they even put up any signs saying "Motorists please allow cyclists time and space to cross tram tracks"? Do they ****. It is all "Cyclists beware tram tracks" while everyone races to the next red light.
jonny jeez
Legendary Member
- Location
- Chislehurst, Kent, UK
Yup...bloody awful things and a mare for new riders approaching the bridge at some speed from the college end.
Actually worse in the opposite direction as you invariably have to cross them to circumnavigate the busses that stop just past the station...and cover the gaps until the very last minute...for extra stress.
PhilDawson8270
Veteran
I had an idea for tram lines.
They need a platform that covers the gap, it would be sprung loaded, so when pressed it dropped down.
Springs are set up with so much resistance that a cycle wouldn't be able to press them down. But the weight of the wheels on a tram would press them down, allowing it to be a normal tram line while it passes, returning back to the safer bridged version when it has passed.
My mind does wander when I have little to do
They need a platform that covers the gap, it would be sprung loaded, so when pressed it dropped down.
Springs are set up with so much resistance that a cycle wouldn't be able to press them down. But the weight of the wheels on a tram would press them down, allowing it to be a normal tram line while it passes, returning back to the safer bridged version when it has passed.
My mind does wander when I have little to do
martint235
Dog on a bike
- Location
- Welling
Yep been like that for as long as I can remember. It's a plan well ahead jobbie but it doesn't always work out as planned
Red17
Guru
- Location
- South London
I had an idea for tram lines.
They need a platform that covers the gap, it would be sprung loaded, so when pressed it dropped down.
Springs are set up with so much resistance that a cycle wouldn't be able to press them down. But the weight of the wheels on a tram would press them down, allowing it to be a normal tram line while it passes, returning back to the safer bridged version when it has passed.
My mind does wander when I have little to do
Still dangerous even without the gap - when I crashed last week it was down to the wheels slipping on the metal rails in the wet rather than falling down the gap (although I have done that at some point but stayed on).
jonny jeez
Legendary Member
- Location
- Chislehurst, Kent, UK
Sounds like a good invention ...have you patented it yet?I had an idea for tram lines.
They need a platform that covers the gap, it would be sprung loaded, so when pressed it dropped down.
Springs are set up with so much resistance that a cycle wouldn't be able to press them down. But the weight of the wheels on a tram would press them down, allowing it to be a normal tram line while it passes, returning back to the safer bridged version when it has passed.
My mind does wander when I have little to do
Anyone have the number for Edingborough's city planners...
I had an idea for tram lines.
They need a platform that covers the gap, it would be sprung loaded, so when pressed it dropped down.
Springs are set up with so much resistance that a cycle wouldn't be able to press them down. But the weight of the wheels on a tram would press them down, allowing it to be a normal tram line while it passes, returning back to the safer bridged version when it has passed.
My mind does wander when I have little to do
In Zurich there was a trial of putting a stiff rubber strip in the gap. Bikes would ride over it but trams would have sufficient weight to press it down. The trial didn't seem to be a success - wore out too quickly or something like that..
Headgardener
Armchair Cyclist
My surname does not have a "g" in it also the city is spelt Edinburgh.
jonny jeez
Legendary Member
- Location
- Chislehurst, Kent, UK
Ah, sorry. I must have been thinking of Edingborough, Pedantsville.
