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Caution Tram Tracks (source - Edinburgh Council YouTube video)Changes to Nottingham tram route after crashes involving cyclists
Nottingham tram bosses have made changes near the Chilwell Road stop after at least two incidents involving cyclists. Red surfacing and new white markings show where cyclists can leave the road, while new signs have been installed and obstructions removed to help make the route clearer.
Angela Barnett-Connolly fell off her bike as she crossed the tram tracks in Chilwell Road last year – an incident that resulted in her requiring 12 stitches after her glasses embedded in her head. She told the Nottingham Post that the route should have been better-designed in the first place.
"My crash was further down, near the church and the footpath isn't wide enough to make a dual pedestrian and cycle path.
"I suppose what they're trying to do is make the best of a bad situation. They should have thought it through a little better and now they're back-tracking and making things as best as possible in order to reduce their liability.
"By the fact they're taking it on board and trying to make some changes, they're saying 'ok, there's a problem and we're trying to address it'. Realistically speaking that road is never going to be wide enough to accommodate everyone."
A subsequent incident saw another cyclist, who did not wish to be identified, hit by a car after the wheel of his bike got stuck in tracks on the stretch of tramway between Central College on High Road and Devonshire Avenue.
In February, Broxtowe MP Anna Soubry suggested it was only ‘a matter of time’ before a cyclist was killed. She called for clear signage telling cyclists to dismount and suggested that rubber inserts be added along that part of the tram route.
A month later, one local cyclist resorted to spray paint to express their feelings. Directly beneath the bicycle symbol on the asphalt, they added the words “unsafe bike lane.”
At a recent meeting of the Greater Nottingham Light Rapid Transit Advisory Committee, David Lally, a representative from local cycling campaign group Pedals, called for cyclist priority on some of the westbound roads where side roads intersect. He suggested that motorists using the side roads should offer priority to the tram and cyclists.
The meeting heard that there were no plans to spend more money following the recent modifications.
Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.
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7 comments
Quaint as they are...why trams?
Electric buses would be much more adaptable to changes in demand, require far less spending on infrastructure (and so become available for use more quickly), and not litter the streets with wheeltraps. Even the installation of overhead lines for trolley buses would cause less disruption than digging up the road to lay intractable tracks.
I live in Geneva. Its fair to say that Switzerlnd is pretty much a cyclist's paradise, road users are bike 'aware' there is a vast array of cycling infrastructure and paths (and even free / very cheap cycling cooperatives) and what is especially noticable is the quality of the road surface compared to France a couple of km away. My usual commute is 8 km which is pretty much all cycle paths around the outskirts of the City to near the airport.
Made the mistake of going through the centre of the city 3 weeks ago and couldnt work out the cycle routes for the life of me. I also got into a position in a bike lane where I had to cross a wide boulevard from one side to the other . I had to put the hammer down to corss given the traffic flow and proptly hit the tram tracks at approx 30kmh. Front wheel jammed in the track and I flew over the handlebars landing on my head, forearm and thigh (which shortly adopted the colour and size of a dart-board) - very quickly picked myself up and got to the pavement incase a tram was coming.
Luckily I had swapped my summer carbon bike for my winter aluminium one the day before. But that can only fit 25mm tyres so I've decided to make myself up a commuting bike with some fat boy rubber on them.
"Nottingham tram bosses have made changes near the Chilwell Road stop after at least two incidents involving cyclists".
There have been dozens of incidents on that road, including myself. The design is an absolute bloody disgrace.
"sensible countries ensure that cyclists always cross them at right angles and never (unlike Edinburgh) put them alongside or inside the tram track..."
Actually in Brussels there are some shocking examples where cyclists are channelled down the middle of tram tracks.
It is quite simple. Install this rubberized product http://www.strail.de/index.php?id=197&L=1 between the rails at the troublespots.
Any reason why all tram tracks in cities don't have that? Is there some sort of downside to it? Seems like such a no brainer that it'd be negligent to not install it.
https://youtu.be/GAVD4EXb8_M
sensible countries ensure that cyclists always cross them at right angles and never (unlike Edinburgh) put them alongside or inside the tram track...