bike and tramtrack

Are tram tracks safe for cyclists? (BBC Inside Out)

Cyclists in three UK cities – Nottingham, Sheffield and Edinburgh – have raised concerns about the safety of tram tracks following a series of accidents.

John Melia was run over by a car after his wheel got caught in a section of Nottingham’s track. It took nine firefighters to free him and he ended up with 24 broken bones.

Nottingham City Council said the tram tracks were “absolutely safe” as long as riders take note of safety guidance.

Watch the full report on Inside Out on Monday at 19:30 BST on BBC One in the East Midlands or on iPlayer.

Love Your Bike survey highlights impact of Metrolink tram tracks on cycling safety

Love Your Bike, the cycling advocacy campaign co-ordinated by Manchester Friends of the Earth, has published the results of a survey of people’s experiences of cycling alongside or across Metrolink tram tracks.  The survey highlights that a large majority of respondents feel unsafe when cycling over tram tracks and there are many cases of people suffering serious injuries requiring hospital treatment. [1]

The survey was created after Love Your Bike raised concerns in December 2014 regarding the designs of Metrolink tram routes at road junctions such as Southmoor Road in Wythenshawe.