Are Streetcar tracks dangerous for bicycles? | Portland Tribune

Headlines are quick hits from media outlets from Missouri and around the world. Follow the headline link for the full story. The source of this headline says:

Since Portland Streetcar tracks were first laid in city streets, bicyclists have complained that they cause accidents by trapping their tires. Although the city has put up some signs along the tracks warning of such accidents, bike riders have continued to have problems.

According to a new city ordinance, "Analysis of crash history and community feedback indicate there is a safety issue associated with people riding bicycles on or across streetcar tracks in Portland's central city."

Link: 

Are Streetcar tracks dangerous for bicycles? | Portland Tribune

MoBikeFed comment: The short answer to the question posed by this article is: Yes, streetcar tracks are VERY dangerous for bicyclists.

Similar to the Portland's streetcar project outlined above, both Kansas City and St. Louis are currently in the process of installing streetcar tracks that are far more dangerous to bicyclists than they need to be--all because of federal regulations around the purchase of streetcar rails.

These federal regulations--plus the lack of a current U.S. supplier for safer rails--currently make it very difficult for U.S. cities to obtain the type of rails that are much safer for bicyclists and that are routinely used in European cities that install streetcars.

This situation needs to change, and the solutions that Streetsblog outlines may be good steps in the right direction.

In the meanwhile, we can only warn Missouri bicyclists to stay well away from the new streetcar tracks in St. Louis and Kansas City.

- Choose other routes if you can.

- Always cross the tracks at a 90 degree angle; never less than a 75-80 degree angle; never cross tracks that are running parallel to your direction of travel.

- If you don't have room to turn to get the proper angle to cross the tracks, you will have to stop and lift your bicycle over the tracks. Yes, the tracks are that dangerous.

- The slots in these tracks are deep enough to grab either your front OR your rear wheel and cause you to have a serious fall.