In a few posts, I've complained about poorly-conceived, -designed and -constructed bike lanes and paths. They lead to nowhere and expose the cyclists to all sorts of hazards.
Sometimes those hazards are embedded in the lane or trail itself. Among the worst are railroad tracks, especially if they run parallel (or nearly so) in proximity to the cycling route. Ideally, tracks and lanes (or paths) should cross at right (90 degree) angles or as close to it as possible.
If the tracks cross at a more oblique angle, the tires can graze against the rails, or get lodged against them, and send the cyclist tumbling to the ground. That's happened to at least half a dozen riders on the Centennial Trail where it crosses the Burlington Northern-Santa Fe tracks in Arlington, Washington, 64 km north of Seattle. At that point, the trail crosses the tracks at an angle of less than 45 degrees--or near the one o'clock position. (A 90 degree angle crosses at the 3 o'clock position.)
Recognizing the problem, the Arlington City Council has just awarded a contract to realign the trail so that the trail, which heads north, would turn east about 15 meters (50 feet) from the tracks so that it can cross at a 90 degree angle.
City engineer Ryan Morrison says the project will take about two to three weeks, and that it will timed to coincide, as best as possible, with improvements Burlington Northern-Santa Fe has planned for that same area. That means the work will start around late May or early June.
Sometimes those hazards are embedded in the lane or trail itself. Among the worst are railroad tracks, especially if they run parallel (or nearly so) in proximity to the cycling route. Ideally, tracks and lanes (or paths) should cross at right (90 degree) angles or as close to it as possible.
If the tracks cross at a more oblique angle, the tires can graze against the rails, or get lodged against them, and send the cyclist tumbling to the ground. That's happened to at least half a dozen riders on the Centennial Trail where it crosses the Burlington Northern-Santa Fe tracks in Arlington, Washington, 64 km north of Seattle. At that point, the trail crosses the tracks at an angle of less than 45 degrees--or near the one o'clock position. (A 90 degree angle crosses at the 3 o'clock position.)
Recognizing the problem, the Arlington City Council has just awarded a contract to realign the trail so that the trail, which heads north, would turn east about 15 meters (50 feet) from the tracks so that it can cross at a 90 degree angle.
City engineer Ryan Morrison says the project will take about two to three weeks, and that it will timed to coincide, as best as possible, with improvements Burlington Northern-Santa Fe has planned for that same area. That means the work will start around late May or early June.
