Bicycling crashes on streetcar (tram) or train tracks: mixed methods to identify prevention measures.

Kay Teschke,Conor C O Reynolds,Meghan Winters,M Anne Harris,Jessica Dennis

doi:10.1186/s12889-016-3242-3

Abstract

BackgroundStreetcar or train tracks in urban areas are difficult for bicyclists to negotiate and are a cause of crashes and injuries. This study used mixed methods to identify measures to prevent such crashes, by examining track-related crashes that resulted in injuries to cyclists, and obtaining information from the local transit agency and bike shops.MethodsWe compared personal, trip, and route infrastructure characteristics of 87 crashes directly involving streetcar or train tracks to 189 crashes in other circumstances in Toronto, Canada. We complemented this with engineering information about the rail systems, interviews of personnel at seven bike shops about advice they provide to customers, and width measurements of tires on commonly sold bikes.ResultsIn our study, 32 % of injured cyclists had crashes that directly involved tracks. The vast majority resulted from the bike tire being caught in the rail flangeway (gap in the road surface alongside rails), often when cyclists made unplanned maneuvers to avoid a collision. Track crashes were more common on major city streets with parked cars and no bike infrastructure, with left turns at intersections, with hybrid, racing and city bikes, among less experienced and less frequent bicyclists, and among women. Commonly sold bikes typically had tire widths narrower than the smallest track flangeways. There were no track crashes in route sections where streetcars and trains had dedicated rights of way.ConclusionsGiven our results, prevention efforts might be directed at individual knowledge, bicycle tires, or route design, but their potential for success is likely to differ. Although it may be possible to reach a broader audience with continued advice about how to avoid track crashes, the persistence and frequency of these crashes and their unpredictable circumstances indicates that other solutions are needed. Using tires wider than streetcar or train flangeways could prevent some crashes, though there are other considerations that lead many cyclists to have narrower tires. To prevent the majority of track-involved injuries, route design measures including dedicated rail rights of way, cycle tracks (physically separated bike lanes), and protected intersections would be the best strategy.

Highlights

Streetcar or train tracks in urban areas are difficult for bicyclists to negotiate and are a cause of crashes and injuries
Most of the eleven routes operate in mixed traffic, but three operate in dedicated rights of way
Streetcar tracks in Toronto are typically constructed with two types of rail (Fig. 1): girder rails and tee rails

Summary

Introduction

Streetcar or train tracks in urban areas are difficult for bicyclists to negotiate and are a cause of crashes and injuries. This study used mixed methods to identify measures to prevent such crashes, by examining track-related crashes that resulted in injuries to cyclists, and obtaining information from the local transit agency and bike shops Both bicycling and public transport are seen as means to increase physical activity in the population and to reduce air emissions that induce climate change [1]. Research has begun to report high numbers and high risks of injuries to bicyclists riding near streetcar or train tracks [3,4,5,6,7,8,9] These studies include one we conducted in the cities of Vancouver and Toronto, Canada [4, 6, 7]. Unlike Vancouver, Toronto has an extensive streetcar system (the largest in North America) and 32 % of participating cyclists injured there had crashes that directly involved tracks, compared to 2.5 % in Vancouver

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