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VIDEO: Risk-taking cyclist nearly pays ultimate price for dicing with trams

Rushing cyclist attempts dangerous overtake - and nearly finds himself under wheels of tram

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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20 comments

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Aapje | 10 years ago
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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.

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Maximo | 10 years ago
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Welcome to Edinburgh.

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bobdelamare | 10 years ago
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I'm old enough to remember tram tracks in South London and they regularly caught people out.

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Matt_Z | 10 years ago
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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.

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Beaufort | 10 years ago
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Almost a suicidal move. Obviously the cyclist has no imagination whatsoever.

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gummo | 10 years ago
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Incredible response from tram driver, whatever the case with the cyclist. Wow.

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Colin Peyresourde | 10 years ago
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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.

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farrell replied to Colin Peyresourde | 10 years ago
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Colin Peyresourde wrote:

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.

But why is my orange not green and apple-like?

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Colin Peyresourde replied to farrell | 10 years ago
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farrell wrote:

But why is my orange not green and apple-like?

What a weird remark.

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bobcdc | 10 years ago
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A good candidate for a future Darwin Award.

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daccordimark | 10 years ago
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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.

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farrell | 10 years ago
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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.

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eschelar replied to farrell | 10 years ago
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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?

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Maximo replied to eschelar | 10 years ago
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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.

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shay cycles | 10 years ago
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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.

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SheeponWheels | 10 years ago
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Cracking reactions from the tram driver, well done that man!
Darwin award for the other cretin.

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Leviathan replied to SheeponWheels | 10 years ago
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SheeponWheels wrote:

Cracking reactions from the tram driver, well done that man!
Darwin award for the other cretin.

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.

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BBB | 10 years ago
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Debil.

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Rouboy | 10 years ago
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What an arse!!!!!

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Flying Scot | 10 years ago
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Impressive stopping from the tram!

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