Edinburgh trams and cyclists injuries

caol ila · 24-01-2015 12:12pm #1

http://m.scotsman.com/news/transport/cyclists-to-sue-edinburgh-over-tramline-accidents-1-3669916#.VMN7yxQgC-U.mailto

Cyclists planning legal claims over cycling injuries sustained with the new tram system

ted1 · 24-01-2015 1:55pm

Due to the numbers it must be design fault in the line.
If there happening at the same places it's probably the angle the road crosses it.

Pinch Flat · 24-01-2015 3:54pm

Lived in southern Germany with tram lines galore in the city. Admittedly I came a cropper on a Peugeot road bike I brought for the Erasmus year to get around, but by and by no issues of note with the locals

monument · 25-01-2015 1:38am

Luas cross city will have many more junctions and track curves at junctions -- where people will be cycling straight on over the curved tracks.

Examples attached.

Ole Rodrigo · 25-01-2015 11:17am

If you cross tracks at an angle there's no problem.

PCX · 25-01-2015 11:55am

I had to attend the fracture clinic in the Mater this summer for a break i sustained in a fall from my bike. The first question the consultant asked me was if it happened at the Luas lines (it didn't).

He said the majorty of injured cyclists they see there are Luas line related.

ted1 · 25-01-2015 3:00pm

Ole Rodrigo wrote: »

If you cross tracks at an angle there's no problem.

Even an elongated angle ?. A wet track can be very slippy

Weepsie · 25-01-2015 3:36pm

Saw a guy go over on one just over a week ago in the IFSC. Very sudden, very unexpected. He seemed a bit shook by it but was also a little embarrased I think. Had a friend go over on one. My commute ends at them as I've to dismount to go on a footpath for 50 m or cycle around the quays and one way street for another 1-1.5 km but that'll change when the new line is completed.

I'm disappointed that this, and the first instance of laying tracks and planning, which are the biggest civil projects of recent memory were not used as a chance to also improve cycling routes and improve traffic flows.

Anything here seems to be implemented with blinkers, get it done, to hell with other impacts, rather than be inclusive of all parties, or at least that's how I see it, not being privy to private meetings etc.

Having used this service in Edinburgh, it's grand but it was apparently way way over budget, late, didn't extend to where planned, they had to consult the LUAS builders as they were so over time and budget. It was busy though both times I was there, but such were the problems, wouldn't be surprised if there was something a bit off

monument · 25-01-2015 5:03pm

Ole Rodrigo wrote: »

If you cross tracks at an angle there's no problem.

That will be harder in traffic flow in the layouts attached to my last post above!

magicbastarder · 25-01-2015 6:21pm

i was once told or once read that in (i think) vancouver, they put a heavy rubber flange in the track - no issue with it flexing out of the way for a tram, but it's sturdy enough to take the weight of a cyclist. if it's true, would be interesting to see how the RPA/veolia/whoever might respond to a query as to whether they're being considered for the luas extension, considering so much of it will be on city streets.

tomasrojo · 26-01-2015 12:57am

My only fall that I felt required medical attention was crossing the Luas track in front of St. James' in very wet conditions heading west. Bike slid out from under me on the incredibly slippery rails (does the Vancouver flange address that, or does it just prevent wheels getting stuck in the groove?). I couldn't get into position to cross the tracks at a right angle and I was trying to keep up with traffic. I would have been better off using the (then-non-optional) cycle track off to the left, but it's also a bit rubbish.

I was fine anyway.

I have to say that until I saw monument's post I hadn't given any thought to new Luas-related hazards.

triggermortis · 26-01-2015 7:44am

I have to cross one tram track every day on my commute. It is at 45 degrees to the road direction and I am always wary of it but have never had any issues in any weather. Maybe Swiss tram tracks are different?

Beasty · 26-01-2015 9:46am

tomasrojo wrote: »

My only fall that I felt required medical attention was crossing the Luas track in front of St. James' in very wet conditions heading west.

Did it get reported at all? I suspect a lot of incidents, even if causing some injury, are simply shrugged off (which would probably be my attitude also), making any official stats meaningless. The result is that no-one thinks there's a problem when there may well be one, and therefore no-one explores properly options to reduce the risks

tomasrojo · 26-01-2015 10:47am

Beasty wrote: »

Did it get reported at all? I suspect a lot of incidents, even if causing some injury, are simply shrugged off (which would probably be my attitude also), making any official stats meaningless. The result is that no-one thinks there's a problem when there may well be one, and therefore no-one explores properly options to reduce the risks

I did mention it to St. James', but I've no idea whether they noted it officially in any way. I went home first, realised that the skin below my knee was quite deeply split and then went back to St. James' to the A&E, where I mentioned how it had happened.

I must have been in shock of some sort not to have noticed my knee was injured at the time of the fall. No pain at all immediately after, despite landing directly on the knee. Well, it looked worse than it was. Not Beasty-standard anyway. A&E said it was ok, and said rather than wait for twelve hours, why not go to your GP for a tetanus the next day; that was it.

I did hear a doctor on the radio mention there was a problem with the Luas track outside St. James' and cyclists falling. He recommended a sign to warn cyclists, and ideally a redesign of the junction and an investigation into what anti-slip technologies were available.

Only kidding! He said cylists must wear helmets at all times.

magicbastarder · 26-01-2015 11:18am

tomasrojo wrote: »

does the Vancouver flange address that, or does it just prevent wheels getting stuck in the groove?

i assume just the latter; here's one reference i can find on a quick google, refers to toronto having installed them on level crossings for railway lines, not tram tracks.
https://nowtoronto.com/news/streetcar-tracks-a-bloody-hazard-for-cyclists/

Beasty · 26-01-2015 12:38pm

tomasrojo wrote: »

I did mention it to St. James', but I've no idea whether they noted it officially in any way. I went home first, realised that the skin below my knee was quite deeply split and then went back to St. James' to the A&E, where I mentioned how it had happened.

When I tried to report an accident to the Gardaí a few years ago (and a quite serious one at that requiring an A&E ambulance followed by a few days in hospital) they were simply not interested, as no "motor vehicle" had been involved. I suspect that failed to get into any official "cycling" stats at all (except any concerning successful claims against the local council!)

Edinburgh trams and cyclists injuries

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