Basle, Switzerland; a solution used in several locations for low floor accessible vehicles at locations where it has not proven possible to provide safe 'kerbside' or 'island platform' stopping facilities. The examples shown here do not provide true "easy access" no-step level boarding, but by reducing the height of the section of road reserved for the public transport by the same amount equivalent to a kerb-stone the entry / exit gap (step) between the ground and the LRV floor is reduced to a more "cope-able" amount.
Left Usually the lower traffic lamp flashes amber, but as a LRV approaches the lights change to red halting the traffic and providing passengers with a safe route between the vehicle and
the kerb. Note that the cyclist is also obeying the red traffic signal.Click the projector icon or here to download a 50 second video clip named 'traffic-signal-tramstop320.mpg' which shows the action being described.
Right and below - although the stop is located in the middle of the road it is still possible to create a 'platform effect' by depressing the tracks slightly compared to the rest of the road surface. These three views come from the suburb of Reinach Dorf where a segregated light rail line rejoins the public highway for a short distance. As with the other location there are traffic signals which hold back the traffic on the approach of the LRV although they are not seen here.
Special needs easy access (for all types of transport) is more fully covered on the Easy Access page.
Parking
When considering parking it is important that the legitimate needs of both local shops and other road users are taken into account. This includes the needs of these shops to receive deliveries - at a time of day that does not require smaller 'proprietor' businesses to be staffed at unreasonable hours - and with the delivery vehicle being able to park reasonably close. A five minute hike pushing a heavy delivery trolley is simply not appropriate. (If the planners disagree, let them try it themselves - preferably when it is cold, wet and windy). In Britain there are many older premises that do not benefit from rear entrances through which deliveries can be made.
As the first two of the images (below) demonstrate, given the will and a positive 'can-do' attitude parked vehicles and light rail can co-exist. The third image shows a large freezer being delivered to an ice-cream parlour. For safety whilst in transit it was in a wooden crate which had to be opened on delivery. Even with many hands this item was still a difficult delivery; although there is a bay in George Street, Croydon, it was full, plus with an item as big and heavy as this it is quite reasonable that the delivery vehicle should park as close as possible. To avoid identification of the white vans' ownership all company names / contact details and the number plate have been rendered illegible in this picture.
This lorry is in a bay designed to allow vehicles to park without blocking the rail lines.
Delivery vehicles parked partly on footpath violating 'swept path' of tramline. (See text above for reason why).
Green lines painted on the road surface can delineate the safe area in which vehicles can park without disrupting light rail services.
A wide road with parking along the centre (of the road) and the kerbside lanes, then a tram & bus lane and also one lane (per direction) for the general traffic.
In narrow streets the presence of trams can also aid traffic flow by ensuring that at least one lane (in each direction) always remains clear. (The road on the right is for one way traffic only).
