Cyclist dies after wheel gets trapped in unused streetcar track
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Cyclist dies after wheel gets trapped in unused streetcar track
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...rticle4466970/
https://www.nowtoronto.com/news/story.cfm?content=187985
Pretty bad that the city leaves these unused tracks in place for years despite the obvious hazard they pose.
https://www.nowtoronto.com/news/story.cfm?content=187985
Pretty bad that the city leaves these unused tracks in place for years despite the obvious hazard they pose.
Last edited by asmac; 08-07-12 at 05:06 PM. Reason: add link
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Ew, those are nasty hazards alright.
I wonder what kind of traumatic injury the rider suffered. He or she "was not wearing a helmet" is a cheap and overused way to imply the rider was being irresponsible and reckless and deserves that fate, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's not relevant.
Either way, isn't it the city's responsibility to ensure that paths are safe for the vehicles that use them, including human powered vehicles, even if it is costly?
I wonder what kind of traumatic injury the rider suffered. He or she "was not wearing a helmet" is a cheap and overused way to imply the rider was being irresponsible and reckless and deserves that fate, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's not relevant.
Either way, isn't it the city's responsibility to ensure that paths are safe for the vehicles that use them, including human powered vehicles, even if it is costly?
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One of ANY level of gov't responsibility is public safety -- not an AFFORDABLE level of public safety.
This was obviously a problem long known about, and routinely ignored.
Wait -- isn't this Rob Ford's fat-ass domain? THAT would explain a LOT.
This was obviously a problem long known about, and routinely ignored.
Wait -- isn't this Rob Ford's fat-ass domain? THAT would explain a LOT.
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The news articles for this one all mention that Police are waiting for the coroner's report to determine whether death was a result of the fall or a pre-existing medical condition. Perhaps they're just being cautious, but there could be more to the story.
On the other hand, one witness reports that the man's wheel jammed in the tracks, and that he then toppled over and "cracked his head open", which would strongly suggest the cause of death.
I've gone down in the Toronto street car tracks. I was clipped in and slid several meters along my shoulder and knee. Guess I was lucky that my head never touched the ground. Usually I have no issues with the tracks, but the ones in question were under construction and had tapered, gravely edges rather than the newer tracks which make flush right angles and are more easily traversed. I wonder if the out-of-operation Wychwood St. tracks where the fatality occured are tapered on the edges too--those devils can really catch you by surprise.
On the other hand, one witness reports that the man's wheel jammed in the tracks, and that he then toppled over and "cracked his head open", which would strongly suggest the cause of death.
I've gone down in the Toronto street car tracks. I was clipped in and slid several meters along my shoulder and knee. Guess I was lucky that my head never touched the ground. Usually I have no issues with the tracks, but the ones in question were under construction and had tapered, gravely edges rather than the newer tracks which make flush right angles and are more easily traversed. I wonder if the out-of-operation Wychwood St. tracks where the fatality occured are tapered on the edges too--those devils can really catch you by surprise.
#7
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The streetcar may begin running again, that's why the tracks are not removed. And it would cost millions and millions of dollars to install new streetcar tracks.
Personally, I have no issue with streetcar tracks. I am aware of the danger, and I stay off of them.
I actually favor streetcars, since they are predictable, and follow only the rails. I wish private automobiles could be 98.75% replaced by streetcars.
Personally, I have no issue with streetcar tracks. I am aware of the danger, and I stay off of them.
I actually favor streetcars, since they are predictable, and follow only the rails. I wish private automobiles could be 98.75% replaced by streetcars.
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In general, streetcars are a menace to cyclists: the tracks, the cars when they squeeze you or make wide turns, and the people getting on and off in the righthand traffic lane.
Last edited by asmac; 08-11-12 at 09:50 AM. Reason: sp
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More helmet BS, when the stupid thing he did was not pay attention to where his wheels were rolling....
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here in NE on our "metrowest" country roads we have railroad crossings and the grooves are enormous. as I approach them I check for drivers behind me and when possible, hand signal that I would like them to postpone passing me until I cross the tracks. then, after crossing the tracks, I wave them on to pass me or give them a courtesy thank wave so they know I appreciate their patience.
crossing those things at an angle would be asking for trouble
crossing those things at an angle would be asking for trouble
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The big city to the south of us is getting fresh streetcar rail laid all the time and the pleasant little burg I live in is being threatened by a light rail project.
I cross rail @ inadvisable angles all the time with no problems but not everyone is able to do so. I'd hate to ride around the rails with a recumbent.
Fingers crossed we don't get streetcar or light rail here.
I cross rail @ inadvisable angles all the time with no problems but not everyone is able to do so. I'd hate to ride around the rails with a recumbent.
Fingers crossed we don't get streetcar or light rail here.
#15
You gonna eat that?
Nope, that's pretty much how I feel. The Darwin Awards are all about people getting killed doing ill-advised things (when they should know better). This is a case in point.
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The big city to the south of us is getting fresh streetcar rail laid all the time and the pleasant little burg I live in is being threatened by a light rail project.
I cross rail @ inadvisable angles all the time with no problems but not everyone is able to do so. I'd hate to ride around the rails with a recumbent.
Fingers crossed we don't get streetcar or light rail here.
I cross rail @ inadvisable angles all the time with no problems but not everyone is able to do so. I'd hate to ride around the rails with a recumbent.
Fingers crossed we don't get streetcar or light rail here.
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"Even if it is costly"? Cities are not currently sitting on large cash reserves. Given our current economic state, we need arguments for less spending not more.
On the other hand, if we raise taxes, we'll get more unemployment and more people won't be able to afford a car, so I guess that would increase bicycle ridership. Is this why some cycling advocates have a "price is no object" mentality?
Last edited by Daves_Not_Here; 08-10-12 at 07:23 PM.
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I think it's more likely that a lot of cyclists would like to see equality for road users, and look at the millions or billions spent on improving things for automobiles, and the refusal to part with a few hundred thousand to meet even minimal safety standards for bicycles and other human powered vehicles.
#19
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Hello my blog friend. We will never know if a helmet would have made a difference. Two people have died in my area this year and both were wearing a helmet. The last rider scraped off a road near my home was not wearing one and he is back on the road. The helmet argument can be played out on both sides and it's better to let it lie because it usually deteriorates into personal insults.
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Things like this always seem to lead to a debate of fault. The rider gets blamed for not wearing a helmet or for not paying attention. The city gets blamed for not maintaining roads and on and on.
The reality is that people in motion tend to bang into things or fall or have other mishaps whether they are driving a car, bicycling, skateboarding, running, walking, canoeing, or Kayaking.
Just the other day, I walked right into the edge of a cupboard door that I left open. OH I cursed and wanted to find something or someone to blame BUT....
The reality is that people in motion tend to bang into things or fall or have other mishaps whether they are driving a car, bicycling, skateboarding, running, walking, canoeing, or Kayaking.
Just the other day, I walked right into the edge of a cupboard door that I left open. OH I cursed and wanted to find something or someone to blame BUT....
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https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...rticle4466970/
https://www.nowtoronto.com/news/story.cfm?content=187985
Pretty bad that the city leaves these unused tracks in place for years despite the obvious hazard they pose.
https://www.nowtoronto.com/news/story.cfm?content=187985
Pretty bad that the city leaves these unused tracks in place for years despite the obvious hazard they pose.
Also, think about this, the city removes these "unused" tracks. And then years down the road they find that they need to expand their rail lanes. Now they're tearing up the roads to reinstall the tracks that they removed. Does that make sense?
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The streetcar may begin running again, that's why the tracks are not removed. And it would cost millions and millions of dollars to install new streetcar tracks.
Personally, I have no issue with streetcar tracks. I am aware of the danger, and I stay off of them.
I actually favor streetcars, since they are predictable, and follow only the rails. I wish private automobiles could be 98.75% replaced by streetcars.
Personally, I have no issue with streetcar tracks. I am aware of the danger, and I stay off of them.
I actually favor streetcars, since they are predictable, and follow only the rails. I wish private automobiles could be 98.75% replaced by streetcars.
That being said, maybe there is some way that they can cover these "unused" tracks to remove the fall danger, but wouldn't involve actually removing them.
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The accident is horrible news, I have to agree with the sentiment that it's unrealistic to expect the city to be able to keep up financially with covering all old tracks, or cover those that might be needed in the future. I used to ride in Philadelphia, which has used and unused trolley tracks everywhere. And even some of the tracks that were covered in asphalt have begun to break through again, so that's not always the solution. It just becomes an unfortunate fact of life, especially in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods/districts.
I once got caught in a Philly trolley track, and went over the bars hard. Bruised ribs. But the only thing do is just get back on the bike when you feel better and be more careful. Sucks, but that's the card we're dealt. It's hard enough to advocate for painted bike lanes, let alone major reconstruction of large swaths of city streets.
I once got caught in a Philly trolley track, and went over the bars hard. Bruised ribs. But the only thing do is just get back on the bike when you feel better and be more careful. Sucks, but that's the card we're dealt. It's hard enough to advocate for painted bike lanes, let alone major reconstruction of large swaths of city streets.
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In general, streetcars are a menace to cyclists: the tracks, the cars when they squeeze you or make wide turns, and the people getting on and off in the righthand traffic lane.
Also, which would you rather deal with? One hundred single occupant cars, or two or three streetcars carrying the same number of passengers?