Streetcar Track Lowside

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Plasticguy said:
sheesh. he says its even impossible to attain 45 degrees from a full lane away if you are going more than 10 mph. its the bike's angle and not the tire angle. i have been turning over and back tracks for some time with no problems at all. now i am starting to get a little freaked out. need to reassess how I ride over rails. glad you are ok ikelso.
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Me too. I haven't had much problems on tracks up til now, then yesterday i read that guys very technical article on it, and right afterwards i went out for a ride and had to cross a couple tracks on corners and found myself feeling nervous and more conscious about it than before... damn internet! lol
 
I was just wondering if anyone else has gone down on streetcar tracks and proceed with claim or suit against them, maybe they can stop using/greasing the tracks all together or get these nuisances off the road and replace them with buses because of all the maintenance that these POS cause.
 
Yukoner said:
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Basis for a class-action on the part of motorcyclists and bicyclists that have been injured and/or damaged their bikes?
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You may want to add Canadian Tire to your suit for selling windshield washer fluid with Teflon in it, which is then sprayed all over.
 
markopas said:
I was just wondering if anyone else has gone down on streetcar tracks and proceed with claim or suit against them, maybe they can stop using/greasing the tracks all together or get these nuisances off the road and replace them with buses because of all the maintenance that these POS cause.
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I doubt the majority of tax payers would side with your cause. And since they/we would be paying for any of this I doubt it would work. The tracks were there before you bought your bike right?
 
murf said:
I doubt the majority of tax payers would side with your cause. And since they/we would be paying for any of this I doubt it would work. The tracks were there before you bought your bike right?
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They're a MAJOR part of the city's infrastructure and green initiatives. Buses would be taking 3 big steps backwards for the city. They're not going anywhere.
 
markopas said:
I was just wondering if anyone else has gone down on streetcar tracks and proceed with claim or suit against them, maybe they can stop using/greasing the tracks all together or get these nuisances off the road and replace them with buses because of all the maintenance that these POS cause.
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You would also include manhole covers and the new wide paint stripes?

Watch for tracks that have sunken below the pavement. They're like sliding wheel chocks when they grab the front end.
 
murf said:
I doubt the majority of tax payers would side with your cause. And since they/we would be paying for any of this I doubt it would work. The tracks were there before you bought your bike right?
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Yes, you may be right to some certain extent - but for majority of the City dwellers who live in the city and drive which is a large population will disagree with you. By keeping these streetcars around, the city (and trust me this has been discussed over and over and even on the TV and Radio) by keeping them around is more of a problem and keeps the city from moving forward and just makes the city halt with them around.

Macs said:
They're a MAJOR part of the city's infrastructure and green initiatives. Buses would be taking 3 big steps backwards for the city. They're not going anywhere.
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By keeping in the city we are moving three steps back - being one of the biggest cities in North America, we are also considered a laughing stock by others and keeping these "old" and "traditional" forms of transportation around, they were good for the time they have been around when the city was still young and new. They cost the city more for upkeep to maintain and all the tracks that have to keep being replaced and the repavment of the roads when they have to take them out and put new ones in which causes huge gridlock for months on end. The city needs to concentrate on future plans of underground subway systems that get people around faster and quicker.

There is no way the city can force people to take public transit as the city is getting bigger and more cars per household - it's just not a feasible answer.

nobbie48 said:
You would also include manhole covers and the new wide paint stripes?

Watch for tracks that have sunken below the pavement. They're like sliding wheel chocks when they grab the front end.
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No, manhold covers can be avoided and road stripes are not as bad. The tracks theoretically are not as bad for the front wheel as they are for the rear as you can always adjust the angle of your front tire where as the rear wheel just trails behind decreasing it's angle to the track.

This is why I always try to ride just inbetween the track and the dotted line - feels more comfortablet than driving inbetween the tracks.
 
murf said:
They just approved more street cars no?
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The new streetcars will be using existing tracks, but the actual streetcars are much longer. What you're thinking is probably LRT. That train is planned mostly underground in the east end and on the ground in the west end (along Eglinton up to Black Creek), but it will be using a dedicated lane, so you won't be able to ride on those tracks, just cross them.
 
IMO what's more likely is that the OP didn't actually cross the tracks at the appropriate angle, didn't maintain constant speed, or touched the brakes, etc. Sometimes even when you think you're not doing something, you're instinctively doing it.
 
Qualdoth said:
IMO what's more likely is that the OP didn't actually cross the tracks at the appropriate angle, didn't maintain constant speed, or touched the brakes, etc. Sometimes even when you think you're not doing something, you're instinctively doing it.
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As has already been stated, if you are riding between the two rails, there is no easy safe way out. You can't get nearly enough angle to ensure you will make it. Sure it works most of the time, but odds are, if you ride between the rails, you will be bit eventually.
 
markopas said:
maybe they can stop using/greasing the tracks all together
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Is this a serious statement or trolling? Why would anyone make a surface that you drive on slippery on purpose for a routine ride? It's like.... let me put oil on the asphalt so that we can all slide when break and accelerate.
 
Yeah nomad...tracks are greased. Not a thick coating, but it's there.
 
I'm going to suggest taking a dirt riding course such as trail tours.

And adding a bit of throttle is a great way to lighten up the front end just before you cross it, and a common mistake is to close the throttle when you feel the feedback from the front end. Stay on it and ride it out, chances are you might actually make it.
 
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