A Polish cyclist was lucky to be alive after he rushed through the space between two passing trams – and got caught in the tracks.
CCTV footage from the front of one of the trams shows the rider attempting a dangerous overtake which he almost pulls off, but then his wheel catches and he’s sprawled across the road:
We’ve learned that not only was the cyclist unhurt, but thanks to the impressive reactions of the driver, his bike was too.
There’s a lesson in here somewhere, though.
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@tomlew we can discuss both things, I don't see them as mutually exclusive. On the topic of comparison - have a look at the KOM / QOM times on the Mur du Huy ... Demi Vollering's winning time in 2026 is exactly the same as Tadej Pogacar's winning time in 2023. Women are closer than you might think. Let's see how it goes for Lael Wilcox ... she has a chance to set the outright record for riding around the world. On differences, I for sure enjoyed watching the Women's Giro this year and got a chance to see 1 stage. The more open access to the racers is quite surprising and gives extra appreciation for how they interact post finish line.
@tomlew Women's sport should of course remain protected. Hear hear. That women can excel at ultra-endurance, where short-term aerobic capacity becomes less and less important and mental strength/endurance becomes a major factor, obviously does NOT mean that we can set aside protection in other sports where aerobic capacity, strength, reaction time, or whatever, are the major factors - where women are at (varying) disadvantages to men. They're all amazing athletes at these high levels too, of course.
And to reinforce that, the previous record holder appears to have set it at the back end of a successful effort to set a new record for the greatest distance covered in a month - likely she would also have managed significantly further if she'd come to a specific effort fresh.
The 'alongside men' comment was in reference to the overall effort, which was better than any men has managed. The seven day result was in the context of an overall effort of nearly twice the length. If she'd focused specifically on the seven day record she'd almost certainly have gone further. The fact that it set a new women's record anyway likely just shows that few women have yet targeted it.
Do they also have a garage in which they don't keep their car(s)? It would be in keeping...
As far as I know, the men's 7-day record is 3,826.47 km. I am absolutely astonished by both the result and the manner in which the previous record was broken. However, it still demonstrates that women are far behind men in terms of absolute numbers. 15% is far to big a difference to call it "alongside men". Just to be clear: this takes nothing away from Sarah's spectacular achievement. If anything, it reinforces the argument that women's sport should remain a protected category. And that's perfectly fair and fine. Rather than trying to prove that "we can complete alongside each other," which still seems far from true, why not celebrate our differences and diversity?
There's a waiting list for the cycle storage units in my street. Why my neighbours bagged places in them makes no sense, given that they have a cellar with nothing in it.
Data from London shows a drop in crashes since the 20mph speed limits were introduced. There is a certain type of driver that shouldn't be behind the wheel no matter the speed limit though.
She's simply magnificent!
The 20 mph encouraging people to use their phones concept reminds me of possibly my favourite ever Private Eye cartoon, two muggers standing over their senseless victim going through his wallet and one saying to the other, "There's bound to be crime when idiots persist in carrying this sort of money around…" If drivers are admitting that they will break the law if they are given the opportunity to do so then clearly that is openly stating that giving them a licence to drive is about as sensible as giving a drug addict a pharmacist's licence.
20 thoughts on “VIDEO: Risk-taking cyclist nearly pays ultimate price for dicing with trams”
Impressive stopping from the
Impressive stopping from the tram!
What an arse!!!!!
What an arse!!!!!
Debil.
Debil.
Cracking reactions from the
Cracking reactions from the tram driver, well done that man!
Darwin award for the other cretin.
SheeponWheels wrote:Cracking
Not eligible due to lack of death. (Subclause, extreme crossbar impacts may also remove you from the gene pool.) This guy got the appropriate serving of tarmac but might learn from the experience.
The world is full of idiots,
The world is full of idiots, this just goes to prove that some of them ride bikes.
Fortunately the tram driver wasn’t among them.
I have huge issues with tram
I have huge issues with tram tracks and their dangers to cyclists and I will argue the point that we need to engineer those dangers out till my gums bleed.
So I have to thank this particular bellsniff for making my rants more difficult to defend.
Full props to the tram driver though, even if there is some foreshortening with the camera he has saved that fuckers life big time, that was closer than a nuns copy of Fifty Shades of Grey.
You think that trams are bad
You think that trams are bad because they represent danger to cyclists…
You *are* aware that they run on tracks right? That means that their path is *always* 100% predictable. Don’t want to get run over by one? Don’t get in front of one and you’re done!
Want to get pissy about public transportation and its danger to cyclists, OK, I can understand about buses since many bus drivers are jaded and angry, tired and bored to inattention, but tram drivers simply cannot swerve and run you over.
That is far, far, far safer than any other vehicle on the road… but you feel a need to rail against them specifically because of the danger they represent.
What have you got against winning arguments?
I think you miss the point.
I think you miss the point. The thread is quite complimentary about the tram. As a daily cycling commuter I am looking forward to taking the tram to work when it is too windy or icy to cycle. Trams are great and much better than buses. However, my knackered knee and permanently bent thumb, and numerous injuries to other cyclists – even a class action law suit – attest to the dangers of crossing tram tracks: sometimes you have to, to avoid buses or the road configuration forces you. The answer must be to keep trams, buses and cyclists apart – Holland and Denmark seem to do it well. Edinburgh’s Princes Street has not done this well and certainly, to me, appears to be the most dangerous road to cycle on with tram, bus, taxi and cycle all competing for a lane. Incidentally, this is where I wiped out with a bus luckily stopping as quickly behind me as the tram in the video.
Irresponsible riding by the
Irresponsible riding by the cyclist, he should be banned or at the very least take a course in how to ride with due regard for other road users.
A good candidate for a future
A good candidate for a future Darwin Award.
OK, he misjudges the car
OK, he misjudges the car coming the other way in his overtake manoeuvre, but the issue is really the tram track. For all of you calling him a cretin, this video makes me think of Kristoff Goddaert who was killed by a bus cycling through Antwerp, and how he was caught out by tram tracks.
I was thinking to myself how he could have been killed, but I’m guessing he too caught his wheel like this gentleman…..but with tragic consequences. It could happen to anyone.
Colin Peyresourde wrote:OK,
But why is my orange not green and apple-like?
farrell wrote:But why is my
What a weird remark.
Incredible response from tram
Incredible response from tram driver, whatever the case with the cyclist. Wow.
Almost a suicidal move.
Almost a suicidal move. Obviously the cyclist has no imagination whatsoever.
Tram tracks are always
Tram tracks are always dangerous, even the pros manage to faceplant when crossing them on the tour. This genius managed to completely misjudge distance and conditions, in that I agree with you. In cities where tram networks are isolated from traffic they are very tempting to cyclists. A bit of rain or even on their own they become very effective traps.
I’m old enough to remember
I’m old enough to remember tram tracks in South London and they regularly caught people out.
Welcome to Edinburgh.
Welcome to Edinburgh.
In Dutch cities cyclists
In Dutch cities cyclists still have to cross tram tracks sometimes. Crossing is quite safe as long as you ride perpendicular to the tracks. It’s most dangerous when you ride in the same direction next to the tracks and then try to cross them. It’s best to always stay on the same side (not overtaking traffic) and make a big loop when you do cross them. For instance, when approaching a crossing where you want to go right over the tram tracks (assuming left-handed riding), go left at the crossing and then turn to cross perpendicular.
Unfortunately it is easy to forget about the tram tracks when the traffic becomes hectic.