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Tuesday, 9th February 2010

Hampshire cyclist thrown off his bike at level crossing

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Published Date:
09 July 2009
A cyclist has called on railway bosses to fix a level crossing after he was thrown off his bike.
Tony Callen flew over the handlebars when his front wheel wedged itself perfectly into a crack.

Mr Callen then had to frantically wrestle his bike off the level crossing before a train came.

He says Network Rail should fix the problem before a serious accident occurs at the crossing in Inlands Road, Nutbourne, near Emsworth.

The 71-year-old retired lecturer, who suffered injuries after landing on his face, said: 'We were riding along the road when suddenly I found myself on my face. The front wheel of the bike had simply gone down a hole in the road.

'Luckily, I had a friend with me to help, but what if someone was alone and knocked unconscious? Roads are not designed to have slits that take bikes down with them.

'My helmet basically saved me. I was very lucky.'

Mr Callen, of Second Avenue, Havant, suffered a severed lip and a cut to his nose and fears he may be permanently scarred.

The police were contacted about the accident on June 8 by Mr Callen, but, a month on, nothing has been done to rectify the problem. Mr Callen said: 'It just shouldn't be there – and it could kill someone.'

Gary Gaskarth, spokesman for Network Rail, said the tracks are inspected every six months. He added: 'When the concrete slabs between the rails are laid, there are no spaces between them.

'However, there are some factors, such as vibrations from train movements, which can cause small gaps to form.

'This sort of thing is picked up in the regular inspections we carry out on all our level crossings, but unfortunately the gap at Inlands Road level crossing appears to have formed between inspections.

'We will take action to close the gap as soon as possible and apologise to Mr Callen for any distress caused by this accident.'


SAFETY CAMPAIGN

Network Rail is currently investing in a new campaign called Don't Run The Risk to educate members of the public about using level crossings safely.

There are around 7,000 level crossings in active use in the country. Of these around 1,500 are on public vehicular roads and the remainder are where public footpaths, bridleways and private roads or tracks cross the railway.

On average there are seven pedestrian and two to three driver or passenger fatalities per year – excluding suicides. Accidents involving injury to persons on the train are rare.

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  • Last Updated: 09 July 2009 8:45 AM
  • Source: The News
  • Location: Portsmouth
 
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1

Diamond Smiles,

Baffins 10/07/2009 07:39:38
That's sensible, go back and wedge your bike back in the crack on the crossing for a photo. How safe is that Evening News? Glad your thinking of anyone on a train that moment!
2

Mike131,

Round here 10/07/2009 13:54:02
I'm sure The News had made all the necessary arrangements, Diamond Smiles. The picture is there to show other local cyclists there is a clear and obvious danger and if Network Rail get out and fix the problem that means less injuries, and maybe more lives saved. One of them could be a friend or family member.
3

Tony2009,

Southampton 12/07/2009 12:23:09
As a cyclist I have to say was Mr Callen not looking where he was going? A gap large enough to swallow a wheel is a gap that is easily visible to those who are looking. Its not as if, with the rails and everything, crossings are not a place where extra attention is not needed, especially given the notorious slipperiness of the rails themselves. So stop blaming others and look to yourself for fault Mr Callen.
4

B C Cletts,

Scotland 12/07/2009 13:07:47
Whilst it is prudent to be aware of the risk that there will be gaps between the crossing panels, the presence of other traffic, and other factors may prevent the cyclist from avoiding this sort of problem. That said there is a requirement the any part of an all purpose road should be fit for the purpose of cycling along, and the spec for level crossings notes that gaps in excess of 10mm are likely to trap cycle tyres.

Instances of this happening are rare, if the reporting reflects the true position, but face-plant injuries are a common result. These injuries can be exascerbated by a helmet as the chin and nose can be pressed into the road surface by the front of the helmet.

Network Rail's inspection regime does not monitor daily changes but their resources can be greatly assisted by the public at large reporting the problems which they see, often as daily users of a level crossing, and there is a 24 hour phone line to contact Network Rail, or the CTC - the UK's National Cyclists Organisation delivers an independent online road defect reporting system (including photos) which has the facility to see if a defect has been reported and when it has been repaired. Network Rail is included with the local councils as they are responsible for the road surfaces on level crossings, and are well up the league table for getting things fixed.

Particular details to report can include panels which move as vehicles drive over them, and gaps/vertical misalignments in excess of 10mm (slightly bigger than a 5p piece)
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