Riding over street car tracks

[kakkman]

Hey everyone,

I'll be moving to SF soon and I've always wondered about the best way to negotiate the street car tracks.

I've seen some youtube highlights of people crashing trying to get over them.

What is the best way to cross over safely, especially in the wet, when the tracks are parallel to your wheels?

best,
khory

 

[kiwi_outdoors]

crossing at an angle

if you were to read a book, it would say "cross them at an angle", so thats what I used to do. Which means that you need to preposition yourself to do so.

 

[kakkman]

Yeah definitely crossing them at an angle is ideal. However, in tighter traffic it might be harder to approach it at a safe angle. Have you ever had any issues with not being able to preposition around the city?

 

[motomania2007]

You can most easily ride across the tracks at 45 degrees or more.

With practice and good technique, you can ride across tracks safely at less than 45 degrees.

The easiest way to learn how to do it is riding a dirt bike and learning t switch ruts.

 

[GPzPop]

Cross at as much angle as you have available.

but even as an experienced rider, it is a maneuver that I give purposeful thought to, rather than just on autopilot

RR tracks and streetcar tracks are no joke

--S

 

[afm199]

Always cross at angle, and be SUPER careful on wet days.

 

[MOTOGSXR]

Like everyone said, cross at an angle. I'll add to it - do NOT hit the brakes and try to keep as upright as possible. I did slide before and luckily it caught as soon as it slipped off the tracks to pavement.

 

[yumdumpster]

Its really only an issue when they are wet, and motorcycle tires are wide enough that you dont have to worry about the bike wheel getting stuck. Further there are only a handful of streets where there are tracks actually in the street. the F market, parts of the N Judah etc and there are many ways to completely avoid the tracks should you want too.

 

[bunnygoat]

Manhole covers and painted lines are a bigger threat and they are everywhere.

 

[cfives]

The best way to cross over Muni tracks in the rain is perpendicular. I'd avoid traveling along them in parallel until you were more familiar/comfortable with crossing them.