Protecting Passengers at Road Centre Light Rail Stops

[kaizerzydeco]

Toronto has all of these, save for the traffic light behind the middle-of-street stop. There, all traffic must stop 2 metres short of the rearmost door of the tram, but often they don't, especially visitors. There is never a traffic light. Installing traffic lights, such as the one shown here, at these stops would help a lot, with minimal cost.

[citytransportinfo]

I looked through all my videos which were taken in Toronto in the hope that I might have some footage of a Toronto streetcar stop where people must walk out in to the road.

I only found one view, but it was from a distance and did not look good. Its a shame, but I could not fly to TO just for 30 seconds of video.

Likewise I could not travel to Melbourne, Australia where they face a similar issue and at some of them have changed the road layouts to improve safety.

[kaizerzydeco]

@citytransportinfo I would think the majority of stops in Toronto are in the middle of the street. Only in larger streets or where there is enough space are there centre-island boarding areas. One mostly has to walk out to the car (or alight from it) hoping motorists approaching from behind come to a stop where they should. One often sees people standing right in the road waiting for a streetcar they see coming.

[citytransportinfo]

@kaizerzydeco

In Portland Oregon and Seattle the streetcar stops feature footpath protusions to create platforms alongside the tracks - typically this means that there are a few less parking spaces, and does not involve other moving traffic.

[citytransportinfo]

@kaizerzydeco

This explains why I wanted to include a little of Toronto...

Simon

[bronzeonion]

where is this?

[citytransportinfo]

@bronzeonion

Sorry, I've not yet finished the film information... the first views come from Essen in Germany, the traffic signal and raised kerb views come from Basle in Switzerland.

Simon

[CoachAlex1996]

wow...that is quite clever!

but what about drunk drivers?

[citytransportinfo]

@CoachAlex1996

same as ever - but they often also mount the footpath - so that pedestrians are still in danger.

I remember some years ago seeing in Fleetwood, Lancashire, where the traffic would pass the trams on the otherside. Of course this is what people do with buses too.

Simon