Tramline crossing - always dismounting?

Quoted message said:

Where a tramline crosses a cycling/pedestrian shared path, should I
dismount?

It seems appropriate to dismount, particularly in adverse conditions
or if there are pedestrians present, but if there is no sight or sound
of a tram or trams, or a dismount suggestion sign, can I cycle across
within good practice guidlines?

I think approaching tram drivers find it helpful if you indicate that
you have seen them when you are stationary at such a crossing, by the
way.

My experience is in London.

No need to dismount, just "BEG".

* B-Before * Be prepared to stop /before/ the crossing.
* E-Exit * Make sure you have a clear exit
* G-Gear * Be in the right (fairly low) gear

E is the one that's a bit different to a normal road junction where you may be sneaking
into slow or queuing traffic.

--
Peter Fox
Beer, dancing, cycling and lots more at www.eminent.demon.co.uk

Peter Fox <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

No need to dismount, just "BEG".

* B-Before * Be prepared to stop /before/ the crossing.
* E-Exit * Make sure you have a clear exit
* G-Gear * Be in the right (fairly low) gear

E is the one that's a bit different to a normal road junction where
you may be sneaking into slow or queuing traffic.

Your forgot the R in BEGR - Right-angle. Cross the tracks at a right
angle. Tram tracks are notorious for having cyclists off - at an angle
your wheel slides and you just come off but if almost parallel your wheel
gets grabbed in the track and damages your wheel as well as throwing you
off.

--
Tony

" I would never die for my beliefs because I might be wrong."
Bertrand Russell

in message <[email hidden]>, [email hidden]

(') said:

Where a tramline crosses a cycling/pedestrian shared path, should I
dismount?

It seems appropriate to dismount, particularly in adverse conditions
or if there are pedestrians present, but if there is no sight or sound
of a tram or trams, or a dismount suggestion sign, can I cycle across
within good practice guidlines?

Any strip of polished metal should be crossed as nearly as possible at
right angles, especially in rain. It doesn't take much to cause your front
wheel to lose grip, and dump you very hard onto the road. My own
experience is cattle grids, but the principal is similar. Cross at right
angles to the rails, unweight the bike as much as you can, be especially
careful in the rain.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/
Copyright (c) Simon Brooke; All rights reserved. Permission is
granted to transfer this message via UUCP or NNTP and to store it
for the purpose of archiving or further transfer. Permission is
explicitly denied to use this message as part of a 'Web Forum', or
to transfer it by HTTP.

On Fri, 14 Sep 2007 18:16:45 +0100 someone who may be
[email hidden] wrote this:-

Quoted message said:

Where a tramline crosses a cycling/pedestrian shared path, should I
dismount?

Only if you are unsure of the correct way to deal with the rails, or
not confident of your ability to cross them safely.

Quoted message said:

It seems appropriate to dismount, particularly in adverse conditions
or if there are pedestrians present,

It doesn't seem appropriate to me for the first or third reasons.
Whether it is appropriate for the second reason depends on the
nature of the adversity.

Quoted message said:

but if there is no sight or sound
of a tram or trams,

Why should you get off your vehicle if there is sight or sound of a
tram? Simply stop and wait for it to pass.

--
David Hansen, Edinburgh
I will *always* explain revoked encryption keys, unless RIP prevents me
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/00023--e.htm#54

Simon Brooke said:

Any strip of polished metal should be crossed as nearly as possible at
right angles, especially in rain. It doesn't take much to cause your front
wheel to lose grip, and dump you very hard onto the road. My own
experience is cattle grids, but the principal is similar. Cross at right
angles to the rails, unweight the bike as much as you can, be especially
careful in the rain.

Yes, crossing rail lines at right angles is a lot less tricky than
riding along the main street in Fleetwood, Lancs (where the Blackpool
trams run along the street). Moving over prior to right turns, passing
stopped buses & trams, etc, often means some odd manouvres to cross
the rails at the best angle possible. Local drivers are used to local
cyclists doing this, but visiting drivers are sometimes surprised.

Jon

Crikey, if you need the help of others to make a decision like that, how the
hell do you get through the rest of your day????

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Where a tramline crosses a cycling/pedestrian shared path, should I
dismount?

It seems appropriate to dismount, particularly in adverse conditions
or if there are pedestrians present, but if there is no sight or sound
of a tram or trams, or a dismount suggestion sign, can I cycle across
within good practice guidlines?

I think approaching tram drivers find it helpful if you indicate that
you have seen them when you are stationary at such a crossing, by the
way.

My experience is in London.

--
Charles
Brompton P-type T6 in Motspur Park
LCC; CTC.