We hit a car today on our 2nd run. The driver seemed to panic when the horn sounded and pulled in front the the train. As far as train- automobile collisions it was not too bad. 1 injurerd and was taken by ambulance but it seemed to be precautionary and not that bad of an injury.
- Heading off topic now.
We had one open trap for the crew and I was stationed at the trap with a good view of all the action around the accident. Police and park rangers were controling the traffic so the tow crew and ambulance could manuver around. Every car heeded the police instructions. - no problem there. What amazed me is that there were about 20 bicyclist that came though at various times. Not one of them heeded the instructions of the police. This created addition headaches for the tow truck crew who were trying there best to get into position to extract the automobile. Some cyclist were even biking into oncoming traffic when the road was open in one direction only. I have been thinking about this for the last couple of days trying to understand the mindset of what seemed to be experienced cyclists.
I can't understand the mindset of a lot of bicyclists myself, I see a lot of them every day, all done up in helmets and spandex doing things on the road that a ten year old on a bike knows enough not to do.
Adrenaline zone-out? Arrogance, because they're "saving the planet and you're not?" Who knows?
I ride a bike from time to time, but not as one of those "serious" cyclists. Unless I'm in emergency mode (I often ride for EMS), I'm paying attention to the rules of the road. Not that I haven't taken a few shortcuts.
That said, I've seen many a cyclist engage in less-than-desirable practices, taking advantage of openings in traffic, etc.
What you've described, however, is a blatant disregard for those measures taken by law enforcement to control a scene. That's just plain selfish.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
Personal observation - bicyclists don't believe 'rules of the road' for automobiles apply to them.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
WAAAAYYYY too many "serious cyclists" have the mindset that the road belongs to them, and they ignore the fact that cars are much heavier and move much faster than they do. And many non-"serious cyclists" are selfish morons who don't care who they inconvenience as long as they can do what they want to do. Such as, the two women in my neighborhood who want to ride side by side so they can talk, regardless that by so doing they take up more than the bike lane on a single-lane road. I whiz by them as close as possible in hopes they can be scared into using their brains, because I refuse to drive off the pavement for their convenience.
Getting a railroad angle back into this, search "You Tube North Jersey Coast Line" and select the 6:33 video by Penn Rail Videos.
About the 1:20 mark you'll see Mr. Numb-nuts on a bicycle ignoring the lowered gates and shooting out in front of the approaching train. Almost jumped out of my skin the first time I saw it.
I'd post the link myself but I'm still no good at it. It's easy to find, though.
The rest of the video's pretty good, as are all the Penn Rail shows.
I'll tell you, I see people do things on bikes I wouldn't have dared to do when I was a kid! Or the other kids either, we didn't have a death wish!
And don't get me started on some pedestrians...
Firelock76About the 1:20 mark you'll see Mr. Numb-nuts on a bicycle ignoring the lowered gates and shooting out in front of the approaching train.
I don't need to watch that video. I once saw that up close and personal.
Scenario: It's still dark. I was turning left into a restaurant driveway that is next to the tracks. Train coming; lights on, gates down. 40 year old guy on a bike with no lights crossed the tracks on the sidewalk. Landed smack dab in my windshield.
Norm
Many of the bicyclists up here in the North Country also don't seem to think that traffic laws apply to them.
And even worse, they seem to think that the rules of the road have created a magic bubble around them that keeps them invulnerable to collisions with vehicles, thanks I suppose to police preaching that bicyclists/pedestrian/motorcyclists safety where vehicles are involved is all on the shoulders of the person behind the wheel and a general lack of what once was common sense.
Thus they ignore their responsibility and put their full trust into the drivers around them to look out for them and keep them safe instead of the 50/50 deal that responsible individuals traditionally sought out where not only did you look out for others, but you also looked out for yourself for obvious reasons (Which for instance is why you're supposed to walk against traffic instead of with it).
And even if it's dark out and raining, you're driving well below the speed limit, and sadly still hit someone with no lights, reflectors, helmet, and with dark clothing on, you're still left just like any locomotive crew after a tragic grade crossing incident. Have to live with it on your conscious for the rest of your life all just because someone held their life in so little regard that they all but put a loaded gun to their head and pulled the trigger.
Doesn't surprise me to hear that it's the same in other parts of the country. All I can say is I'm glad I'm a slowpoke and don't have a lead foot since there are so many of these idiots around like those that insist on walking in the street when there's a nice sidewalk just 4 feet away on the other side of the curb.
Firelock76 I can't understand the mindset of a lot of bicyclists myself, I see a lot of them every day, all done up in helmets and spandex doing things on the road that a ten year old on a bike knows enough not to do. Adrenaline zone-out? Arrogance, because they're "saving the planet and you're not?" Who knows?
Most of the bicyclists seem to ride along the edge area of the paved roadways, as any shoulder is grvel or rough sod. Some of the cyclists who ride in groups tend to ride abreast across the road. Their biggest enemy tends to be the "West Coast- style mirrors on the farm trucks- EMS has made a number of'runs' to pick up cyclists who have gotten used to cars, and trucks wizzing past with inches to spare..It is the cyclists failure to note the extended reach of those mirrors that will put them across the ditches and out into the weeds.. Their goofy plastic riding hats, and spandex do not offer too much protection on landing after being catapulted off their saddle.
At the railroad crossings on thise paved roads, The active crossing warnings are set for track speeds of somewhere between 40 and 70 mph, depending on the crossing..Amazing how, even with those early warnings; some of the cyclists still 'try' to cross before on-coming trains.
Firelock76About the 1:20 mark you'll see Mr. Numb-nuts on a bicycle ignoring the lowered gates and shooting out in front of the approaching train. Almost jumped out of my skin the first time I saw it.
Looks like a kid to me. And I don't really blame him for stupidity (other than going across an activated crossing). Listen to how quiet the cab car is, even with that dinky little bell going, and notice the absence of horn warning that would call attention to it. The engineer gets on the horn to tootle at him after the fact, but even that shows delayed reaction time (or time in shock at a near miss). Heck, the guy even looks to the right as he gets on the crossing, then just keeps going.
1) This is a reasonable argument against the premise of horn bans
2) I wonder if this is a reasonable argument to extend the Japanese use of 'sound files' to make quiet electric cars "recognizable" to pedestrians to cab cars. We could even pick the file: K4 Pacific coming in to a stop; heavy dynamic braking; alarming timbre or low-frequency subharmonics to instill a sense of dread...
(The Japanese alternatives included, if I remember correctly, the sound of George Jetson's car, which I thought was charming...)
Thanks for linking the video Overmod.
I don't think that's a kid. When I watched it on the YouTube site I went full-screen. The guy on the bike strikes me as a "twenty-something." What makes it worse is he's riding with a headset on. Not a good way to hear and react to what's going on around you! And as had been said, the gates were down, which should have told him something...
I don't think you can go full-screen as linked, at least I can't with my computer.
And yes, I'm not a believer in "quiet zones" either. Don't like train noise? Move. Why'd you buy the house near the tracks anyway?
Firelock76And yes, I'm not a believer in "quiet zones" either. Don't like train noise? Move. Why'd you buy the house near the tracks anyway?
I don't think 'quiet zones' are about no train noise; they're about too much blare to the horn. The stupidity is in throwing the baby out with the bathwater by eliminating any intentional audible warning louder than a ding bell. I honestly don't think the people planning horn bans thought that the audible signature of an approaching locomotive -- which is certainly something that commands recognition and respect -- might not even be approximated by the other end of the train leading.
I remember just how sneaky the 'cab end' of the "Comet Is" (they weren't called that when new, of course) could be, especially on a snowy night, when someone wasn't on the horn. This despite the unmistakable locomotive chugging from the other end, which paradoxically remained very clear long after the train had passed. There sure needed to be something to indicate that the business end of a long aluminum pool cue was fast approaching.
Not sure how old he is. Not far from twenty, one way or the other.
Love how he looked at the train and decided to "kick it" a bit.
And yes, headphones are a problem. I see them a lot on runners, too. Which means they can't hear the traffic around them, never mind any trains...
I'm going to go against the grain here and complain about many drivers' lack of consideration of cyclists. I've seen some kids do some pretty stupid things, sometimes even seeming to dare drivers to hit them, but generally the problem is that drivers don't seem to even see the cyclists. I've also seen incidents of deliberate bullying by drivers and was once on the receiving end of it. And as for big mirrors, isn't it the responsibility of the driver to make sure that no part of his vehicle causes any damage to persons or property?
_____________
"A stranger's just a friend you ain't met yet." --- Dave Gardner
I don't believe anyone here is complaining about responsible cyclists, far from it. I think what we're seeing here is a bit of catharsis from people like myself who are on the road every day and to whom it seems they have to deal with foolish cyclists every day.
I try to give plenty of space, and I certainly don't use the car to bully. All I ask is they meet me half-way.
I think a lot of cyclists would do well to heed the old motorcyclist's saying...
"Ride like you're invisible."
Not invisible in the sense you can get away with whatever you want, invisible in the sense no-one's looking at or for you. Pretty wise when you come to think of it.
Paul of Covington I'm going to go against the grain here and complain about many drivers' lack of consideration of cyclists.
It's a valid point - there are more than enough drivers who feel that "it's MY road, what are you doing on it?"
On the other hand, it doesn't take many fools on two wheels to sour one's opinion thereof.
It doesn't do much for one's feelings about motorcyclists and their "watch out" campaign when one passes you, doing a wheely, on a two lane road on which you're already "running with traffic" at five or so over the speed limit...
The best advice is to ride like you're invisible. Especially in heavy traffic, you may well be.
Another thing that puzzles me is that the park systems around here have spent countless millions of dollars on a fabulous system of bike trails of all kinds . Cyclist on our main trail even have the option to put their bikes on the train so they can bike in one direction and ride the train back. Cyclist still prefer to ride on the road even though they are not really going anywhere- just getting their exercise in.
rluke Another thing that puzzles me is that the park systems around here have spent countless millions of dollars on a fabulous system of bike trails of all kinds . Cyclist on our main trail even have the option to put their bikes on the train so they can bike in one direction and ride the train back. Cyclist still prefer to ride on the road even though they are not really going anywhere- just getting their exercise in.
They are the same people who, when going to the gym for exercise, park as close to the door as possible and usually stay for an hour in spaces marked "10 Minute Parking".
Norm48327 rluke Another thing that puzzles me is that the park systems around here have spent countless millions of dollars on a fabulous system of bike trails of all kinds . Cyclist on our main trail even have the option to put their bikes on the train so they can bike in one direction and ride the train back. Cyclist still prefer to ride on the road even though they are not really going anywhere- just getting their exercise in. They are the same people who, when going to the gym for exercise, park as close to the door as possible and usually stay for an hour in spaces marked "10 Minute Parking".
OR parking in the handicapped spots at the gym without benefit of the appropriate plates or placards. It's another "don't get me started..."
A couple of years ago the National Park started a biking safety campaign. They had rangers and volunteers passing out biking safety pamphlets and even gave away free bells so they could give warning while passing on the trail. We even had information available on our train in the bike car. It seemed to help for a while. One thing we still see a lot are cyclist riding through the crosswalks- sometimes right out in front of oncoming traffic.
OK Paul, but be careful out there!
Remember, "Ride like you're invisible!"
Firelock76 I don't believe anyone here is complaining about responsible cyclists, far from it. I think what we're seeing here is a bit of catharsis from people like myself who are on the road every day and to whom it seems they have to deal with foolish cyclists every day. I try to give plenty of space, and I certainly don't use the car to bully. All I ask is they meet me half-way. I think a lot of cyclists would do well to heed the old motorcyclist's saying... "Ride like you're invisible." Not invisible in the sense you can get away with whatever you want, invisible in the sense no-one's looking at or for you. Pretty wise when you come to think of it.
"Ride like you're invisible" must be a VERY OLD motorcyclist saying, that hasn't been uttered in a very long time.
As bad as bicyclists are, IMHO motorcyclists are way worse. My Peterbilt 384 has a sloped nose, not a level hood like a 379, or KW 900, and I have motorcyclist cut me off so close even at highway speeds, that I often can't see their tail/brakelights.
In Oregon, Lane splitting is NOT legal, but you would never know it by the way many motorcyclists ride. As horrible as it sounds, I can't help but Smile, when I see a bike in pieces on the side of the road, and think "there's one less A$$hole on the road to put up with" Yep there are a few respectful bikers out there, but too many of them are poor examples.
Unfortunately, drivers in general are getting more inconsiderate by the day, wether they drive/ride 2 wheels or 18. 28 years ago Professional courtesy was very common among truck drivers, these days, they will play "Speed Up" just like we have always expected of 4 wheelers when passing.
Doug
May your flanges always stay BETWEEN the rails
"Drivers in general are getting more inconsiderate...."
That's ANOTHER "Don't get me started!" Jesus, Mary and Joseph, what I see out there every day...
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