West Virginia Operation Lifesaver
Tips for Bicyclists
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Tips for Bicyclists
Hey, bike riders! Operation, Inc. (OLI) and its safety partners, the Federal Railroad Administration, the Federal Highway Administration, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, West Virginia Operation Lifesaver, the Public Service Commission of West Virginia and the Rahall Transportation Institute want you to be alert when bicycling near and/or crossing railroad tracks.
 
Remember - highway-rail grade crossings are the only places where it's legal for bicyclists, pedestrians, and/or vehicles to cross railroad tracks.
TO STAY SAFE, KEEP THESE LIFESAVING TIPS IN MIND:
  • Look out! If you see a railroad crossing, Always Expect a Train - on any track in any direction.
  • Watch for warning signs and pavement markings as you approach the crossing. At the crossing, look for crossbuck signs, stop signs, flashing lights and/or gate arms.
  • Think before you cross! LOOK in both directions. LISTEN for a train. PROCEED across the tracks only after making sure that no trains are coming and that no warning devices are activated.
  • Don't let your bike wheels get caught in the rails. Always try to cross at a 90-degree angle to the tracks. Never bicycle across tracks at less than a 45-degree angle - instead, dismount and walk your bike across.
  • Do you know that an optical illusion makes trains seem further away and slower moving than they actually are? Don't take chances by trying to "beat" a train across the tracks!
  • If you see or hear a train coming, or if warning lights start and/or gates are lowering, SLOW DOWN AND STOP a safe distance (at least 15 feet) from the railroad tracks.
  • Stay alert at crossings with more than one track! Even after a train passes, before crossing look and listen for other trains on other tracks coming from either direction.
  • Wet train tracks can be slippery. Be extra careful when crossing railroad tracks if it's rainy, snowy, foggy or just plain wet. Dismount and walk your bike across the tracks if the crossing looks hazardous. Step over the rails, not on them.
  • Gravel service roads and green space beside railroad tracks are usually railroad property. It's illegal - and dangerous - to ride your bike on these areas.
  • Trains are wider than the tracks! Locomotives and railroad cars can extend as much as three feet beyond the rails on both sides. When a train is passing, stay at least 15 feet from the tracks, behind any gates or "stop lines" marked on the pavement.
  • Some railroad crossings can be rough. Slow down and be careful - a bumpy crossing may cause you to lose control of your bike and loosen accessories or cargo.