dwango

I took my first fixed dive today when my tire met some West Philly trolley tracks at the wrong angle. Being clipped into the pedals didn't help. Luckily the bike and I escaped with minimal damage.

peabodypride

West philly is a nightmare for riding. Especially when I'm trying to get home on Baltimore Ave.

doofo

scary scary

specially when moist

jamey

mmoooiiissstttt

llalagen

it only takes one fall though to be so embarassed and paranoid to never do it again. glad to hear that there was no physical damage to you or your mavchine though.

exfreewheeler

yeah, I ride down 12th to NL's... it's a bike path lined with trolley tracks. I just swing out then as straight across the tracks as possible, which can only be done when the traffic is light. But is still sucks.

peabodypride

Is taking Broad an option? Although it doesn't have a bike path, it's pretty tame except for maybe around Temple and no trolley tracks either.

I'm sure you knew that.

exfreewheeler

I take Broad from Erie and that is pretty dangerous. Drivers along there are ruthless, but I brave it. I have to go east anyway. Usually on Master. It's nice and quiet with less risk. Sometimes I just take the scenic route... down Midvale to Kelly Drive and across Spring Garden.

peabodypride

I've always experienced more tame traffic South of city hall on Broad. I guess it's the drivers being more weary of peds jumping in to the street in that area?

Ja ne!
$peabody

dwango

Yeah. I cross these tracks every day to get to the bike lane on the other side of the street. I guess I just wasn't paying attention today and took them at to small of an angle.

larry e.

ive taken a pretty nasty spill on 12th around walnut on the trolley tracks. baltimore is horrendous to ride on though. bumpy ass surface, trolley tracks, and cars edging in on the bike lane. only thing worse is trying to squeeze down numbered streets in center city.

Robbykills

yeah those ****ing trolley tracks get me at the ****tiest times.

for example: after monster track this year I got off the Chinatown bus (11th St and Arch I think?) and I went to ride to my friends house. I already had soaking wet socks and shoes, was exhausted, the wind sucked and it was starting to snow. Anywho, I got onto 12th from Arch and was attempting to avoid the trolley tracks when BAM! right over on them, nicely ripping a hole in my pants from like my crotch to the cuffs. I continued riding through the snow like this, miserable as ****. When I came to a slow stop at the intesection of Chesnut and something some blonde bimbo crossing looked at me and said all smart ass "well can I go now?" to which I saltily replied "**** you".

Moral of the story:
Goddamn I hate the trolley tracks.

Cyclist0383

Just you wait till you ride over them wet......

LoRoK

+1 for usage of saltily. I haven't heard anyone say salty in years. You have inspired me, together we can bring it back.

Zen Existence

Been there, done that, eaten **** as a result. Not to mention busted my head open. The tracks blame the beer, I blame the tracks -- all was cured through much more beer and the understanding that I go over said tracks as perpindicular as possible.
Here endeth the lesson.

jamey

haha, don't have to worry about that in st. pete because the trollys don't use tracks. they are like buses designed to look like trolleys...kinda weird.

peabodypride

Philly has a few trackless trolleys too. Better for the environment too, I guess.

My real gripe is in Old City/Society Hill. For the old trolley lines, SEPTA didn't actually remove the tracks, but they just paved over it. Lumpy as crap.

Also, cobblestones.

Ja ne!
$peabody

Oh No

I've jumped tracks in center city in mid traffic. So far no spills, thank christ.

deathhare

Why would it be?
The 'trackless' as you say are basically just buses spewing out diesel exhaust as opposed to the others which are electric.
..and dont you guys know how to lift your front and then your rear wheel over a track?

Cyclist0383

Um, no. Trolleybuses are electric buses which run off overhead wires.

peabodypride

My comment made no sense. I shouldn't post before noon.

Trackless trolleys == run on electricity, I think?

Otherwise the trackless trolley you described would be a bus.

So they're equally bad. Yeah.

Ja ne!
$peabody

deathhare

Well no one actually said 'trolleybuses'.
There are buses here that look like trolley and are diesel so i thought thats what he/she meant.
But yeah, ive seen the electric buses too.

xylophonecks

+1

that being said, I've totally eaten **** getting caught in the trolley tracks in New Orleans. The tracks, coupled with the wonderful streets here, make this city a great place to ride.

Cyclist0383

Are you couldn't figure that out on your own? Tisk, tisk, tisk....

deathhare

What did you say?
And ive never even heard the term 'trolleybus' before today.