Road Runner: Streetcar tracks still cause problems for cyclists

Several cyclists have filed claims against the city saying inadequate design of the rail system has created dangerous situations for riders.

In most cases, cyclists get their tires stuck between the gap in the asphalt and the rails when they hit the track at an acute angle. This has resulted in some serious injuries.

A cyclist who filed a lawsuit in 2013, while the streetcar was still under construction, said she received permanent injuries when her front tire was caught in the tracks at Congress and Fifth streets and she was thrown head-first to the pavement.

In a suit filed earlier this year, another cyclist said he swerved to avoid an object in the intersection of Granada Avenue and Cushing Street, and his bicycle tire became lodged between the track and the pavement and he was cast down to the asphalt.

The lawsuit doesn’t specify the types of injuries he suffered, other than describing pain, discomfort and anxiety.

City officials can’t say for sure how frequently these types of accidents occur, but they’re to address the issue.

Part of that effort involves educating people on bicycle safety near the streetcar line.

“Cross the tracks at as close to perpendicular as possible,” said Ann Chanecka, Tucson Department of Transportation Bicycle and Pedestrian Program coordinator.

Speed also plays a role in bicycle safety near streetcar tracks.

“Travel at a slow enough pace so if a car stops in front of you, you can safely stop,” she said.

Chanecka said areas of high congestion along the streetcar route, such as at University Boulevard and Park Avenue at the university, have seen numerous bicycle-streetcar track incidents.

The problems occur if cyclists traveling at high speed swerve to avoid slowing or stopped cars. When they do, they often hit the tracks at that less-than perpendicular angle and go flying over the handlebars.

Recognizing these bottleneck areas, the city has sought to divert bicycle traffic onto bicycle boulevards and neighborhood streets.

At Euclid Avenue and Fifth Street the city is building what’s called a TOUCAN crosswalk, not be confused with HAWK and PELICAN signals. Short for Two Groups can Cross, this activated crosswalk feature directs cyclists and pedestrians to lanes in the middle of the street.

The city has similar crosswalks at University and Stone Avenue and at Country Club Road and Third Street.

Other safety measures cyclists can take include finding safer routes that avoid the streetcar line or other hazard areas. “Choose a route that you’re comfortable taking,” Chanecka said.

To date, no streetcar-bicycle collisions have occurred. Let’s hope it stays that way.

But in the meantime, we should recognize that bikes and the streetcar are going to share the road. Anything the city can do to promote safety is worthwhile.

Down the road

• Pima County Department of Transportation and the Regional Transportation Authority will be paving Swan Road at Valencia Road on Tuesday, Aug. 4.

Hours of operation will be 5 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Paving will occur in the intersection of Valencia Road to about 500 feet north and south on Swan Road.

• Beginning Monday, Aug. 3, city crews will begin milling and paving Country Club Road from 22nd Street to Aviation Parkway.

Because of the narrowness of the roadway, southbound Country Club from 22nd Street to Aviation Parkway will be closed to through-traffic during work hours, which are scheduled for 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Northbound travel will not be affected by this work.

• Work will continue next week on improvements to the Pima County Wastewater Reclamation District’s sewer line on the northeast side.

The current phase’s construction boundaries run from Woodland Road to just east of Pantano Road.

Construction is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 10 and will continue through late September. Westbound travel lanes on Tanque Verde Road will be closed between Woodland and Pantano Roads.

A portion of the center median will be removed to allow traffic on westbound Tanque Verde Road to be shifted into the eastbound travel lanes.

Traffic along eastbound Tanque Verde Road will be reduced to one travel lane in each direction through this area.

• Pima County Department of Transportation is continuing construction of the Coronado School Walkway and Bike Path Safety Improvement project on the north side of Wilds Road and the west side of Bowman Road.

Vehicular traffic and pedestrian traffic will be affected during construction.

The work includes installation of preservation fencing, grading, curb, ford walls and a culvert pipe.

The pedestrian pathway along Bowman Road will also be under construction when students return to school. Unpaved shoulders on the north side of Wilds Road and on the west side of Bowman Road will be closed to pedestrian traffic.

This project should be completed by mid-October.