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

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.

Tram system related cycling injuries

“…These findings are in keeping with the findings of other studies of cycling related injuries in general [8] and TSRCI [12]. Tschenke et al, in a smaller study of 87 patients, reported a similar age distribution, but found TSRCI to be commoner in females [14]. This is the first study to examine the relationship between social deprivation and TSRCI.…”

“…Collisions with trams are rare [11]. Only one such incident was encountered in this study and none in another study [14]. Our findings in this regard may have been influenced by the fact that the tram system itself was not operational in the early years of this study, despite the tracks being laid, however, In keeping with other, smaller studies [12;14], the commonest mechanism of TSRCI in this study was cycle wheels getting caught in the tram tracks.…”

“…This study is unique in the level of detail provided regarding injuries and procedures sustained by cyclists in relation to tram systems. Other studies are limited to simply reporting the body region injured (without specific details of injuries encountered) [11] or do not describe the injuries at all [14] while most focus on tram related injuries in general [11;12], making only brief mention of injuries to cyclists [12]. Most patients sustained minor injuries and this finding was in keeping with those of other studies undertaken in the context of tram related injuries in general [11;12], however, a number of more serious injuries were encountered, some of which required surgery.…”

“…Our findings in this regard may have been influenced by the fact that the tram system itself was not operational in the early years of this study, despite the tracks being laid, however, In keeping with other, smaller studies [12;14], the commonest mechanism of TSRCI in this study was cycle wheels getting caught in the tram tracks. Tram wheels ride on the rail surface and are held in position by a larger diameter flange on one side of the wheel, which rides in the flangeway (a slot beside the rail) [14]. It is within this flangeway that cycle wheels can get caught and studies have shown that standard tire widths for bicycles vary widely, but commuter and city bikes tend to have tires at the lower end of this spectrum, averaging around 34.4mm [14] and many are narrow enough to get caught in tram tracks.…”

Qualitative Field Observation of Pedestrian Injury Hotspots: A Mixed-Methods Approach for Developing Built- and Socioeconomic-Environmental Risk Signatures

“…Of course, each urban area will feature unique constellations of risk factors. For this reason, the integration of multiple analytic methods, united by a final qualitative assessment based on local knowledge combined with quantitative results is of particular utility and is strongly recommended for future research [53].…”