The situation:
A narrow 2 lane road with 10 ft lanes and no sholder crosses double RR tracks at a 45 deg angle. Traffic is not particularly heavy, but there are typically cars moving in both directions as seen in this satellite image of the crossing http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Double-track-crossing
The problem:
Starting at the extreme right side of the road and cutting left to cross both sets of tracks at a right angle takes the cyclist over the centerline of the road and into oncoming traffic.
To avoid crossing the centerline, the cyclist has to make 2 turns between the tracks . After crossing the 1st set of tracks, the cyclist has to turn right to get back to the right side of the road, and then cut back left to cross the 2nd set of tracks, as shown in the path on the satellite image.
Where is the safest place to make the right and left turns between the tracks? I'd especially like to hear from some of you LCIs out there.
I have been starting the right turn about a foot after the front wheel clears the first set of tracks. I ride parallel to the tracks until getting about two feet from the right edge of the road, then cut a sharp left to cross the second set of tracks. That still takes me to about two feet from the centerline before I my front wheel clears the second set of tracks.
The BikeForums Team
-adv-
This is an archived thread, you can find the full version of this thread, with images, links and more content here.
I've never really had much of a problem crossing tracks at an angle, assuming said rails are flush with the pavement.
Worse come to worse, dismount and walk it. School buses and tanker trucks routinely stop, look and listen.
TRaffic Jammer
looking for a solution to a problem that doesn't exist
Wino Ryder
Think you may be putting to much into this. You really dont need to be dancing on the tracks like that, especially if there's cars around. Unless those tracks are wet, you should be able to cross them just fine by riding straight across. If not, then maybe you should do like 'dobber' said and "walk your bike across."
:)
Recycle
Why are you making right and left turns between the tracks?
I was crossing the tracks at a right angle so my front tire didn't fall into the 2 1/2 to 4 inch gap between the rail and the wooden deck on each side of each rail. Sounds like most people don't see that as a concern.
I-Like-To-Bike
I was crossing the tracks at a right angle so my front tire didn't fall into the 2 1/2 to 4 inch gap between the rail and the wooden deck on each side of each rail. Sounds like most people don't see that as a concern.
Maybe because you didn't mention it in the OP.:rolleyes:
caloso
This is when Caloso digs into his Bag o' Bike Tricks and pulls out his Double Bunny Hop (pat. pend. USPTO).
LittleBigMan
Recycle:
There are two kinds of RR tracks where I live: old, and new. The old ones are surrounded by wood beams, the new ones are surrounded by some kind of rubber. The old ones have huge gaps from lack of maintenance, the new ones are neat, close, and flush with the pavement.
I've never had a problem crossing newer ones, even in the rain.
But I got dumped on an older diagonal RR crossing in the rain, once. My front wheel just slid neatly into the diagonal groove, and I was going about 20. (Fortunately there wansn't any traffic and I slid easily on the wet pavement, with not a lot of abrasions, just one thigh and part of one hand.) Never again. On that older one I go carefully over the rightmost part (the part that isn't as worn from traffic,) and I avoid those older tracks completely in the rain.
So I'd say use your own judgement depending on what you see, especially in the wet. If I had to walk my bike, I'd do it.
I-Like-To-Bike
So I'd say use your own judgement depending on what you see, especially in the wet. If I had to walk my bike, I'd do it.
Good advice. My additional advice is not to spend too much time seeking the best "right" textbook answer from LCI's or other so-called experts not familiar with your skills or situation.
DieselDan
What would you people do if you came across a wet steel deck bridge? You walk across that.
If the tracks and road are dry, ride across them, just keep your rear off the saddle and let the bike roll over them. If the tracks are wet, stop and walk across them.
Michel Gagnon
What would you people do if you came across a wet steel deck bridge? You walk across that.
Certainly NOT!
I have enough problems walking across a wet steel deck by myself that I wouldn't want to do it with a loaded bike on my side!
On the other hand, I never had any problems riding them.
wheel
I am curious as the path or road what ever it is to the south clearly looks like the tracks were laid on the road.
DieselDan
Ride across. Gingerly. Comparing a wet steel deck bridge to a couple of railroad tracks is like comparing apples to apple pie.
I wasn't making a comparison, just another scenario that cyclists deal with in my area. A friend of mine, who is an LBS owner, had his left arm and shoulder injured from a wet steel decked bridge.
genec
How about wet steel plates... where I used to work there was a major construction project going on just outside of my office... they used these huge steel plates to protect the road from the heavy equipment... and then used a street cleaner every few minutes to keep the road and plates free of fallen dirt. So on occasion the plates were wet. When dry they were no problem... just make sure you hit the leading edge square. When wet they were like ice. I would slow down to about 10MPH and hold my course very steady and straight.... I could feel the wheels slipping a bit (especially the front), but I always made it.
edzo
if you have to ask how to ride across tracks,
then maybe u should walk across them
just ride across them if dry
and be careful when wet
the way to do it wet is hop them
Little Darwin
I also like taking tracks at perpendicular angles, but if the angle of the track and road conditions don't allow it, I just take them at the steepest angle possible based on conditions.
For this specifc track pictured, if traffic behind me allows, I would go as far rignt on the shoulder as possible and then turn into the tracks to finish crossing the second track at about 1/2 way across the right lane. Finish turing into the tracks before you get to the tracks, and start the exit turn after you have cleared the tracks.This should give a good enough angle to the tracks that if ridden conservatively should work wet or dry.
Or if I were to encounter tracks at the opposite angle, I would start near the center line and aim for the shoulder.
The bottom line is that if I wanted to maneuver to optimize my path across tracks, I wouldn't do any maneuvering on (or between) the tracks, but only before and after. Pick the best line, not necessarily 90 degrees to the tracks. If I didn't feel like I could do this due to traffic or gaps, I would walk across.
Glynis27
Build a ramp and jump that ****!
Or take it slow and just get the best angle you can.
blickblocks
How about wet steel plates... where I used to work there was a major construction project going on just outside of my office... they used these huge steel plates to protect the road from the heavy equipment... and then used a street cleaner every few minutes to keep the road and plates free of fallen dirt. So on occasion the plates were wet. When dry they were no problem... just make sure you hit the leading edge square. When wet they were like ice. I would slow down to about 10MPH and hold my course very steady and straight.... I could feel the wheels slipping a bit (especially the front), but I always made it.
This just made me think, why can't they just texturize them?
I fear pinch flats every time I go over a steel plate...they're the perfect shape for inflicting damage!
StrangeWill
Most people go straight, even if they're at an angle, if they're at an angle I turn into them slightly depending on the angle (more angle = sharper turn), however I don't need to run perpendicular to the tracks.
Just take them at a slight angle.
donnamb
This just made me think, why can't they just texturize them?
In Seattle, construction companies are required to do just that. I wish that was the case in Portland.
Recycle
I am curious as the path or road what ever it is to the south clearly looks like the tracks were laid on the road.
Wheel,
The marks you see south of 186th St. are ruts made within the last couple of years when the RR did some track maintenance.