Pedestrian hidden by a stopped tram on wet rails
At 07:50 you ride south on a wet boulevard at 38 km/h in a 50 km/h zone. A tram has stopped at an island stop on your right; its doors are open and passengers are stepping onto the island, then crossing your lane toward the pavement. Your lane is bounded by tram rails on the right, shiny from rain. A woman with a shopping bag steps off the tram and walks behind its front end, disappearing from view for a moment. You are 22 m from the point where she would cross. Your front tyre has 2.5 mm tread, your gloves and jacket are decent, and your visor is misting at the edge. The road surface between the rails is wet cobblestone. A car follows 12 m behind you.
1. What hazards does this tram stop create, and why is the woman especially dangerous?
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The tram is a large moving blind spot: passengers can step out from behind it, and the woman has already disappeared from view. Wet rails and cobblestones reduce grip, the misting visor cuts peripheral vision, and the car 12 m behind limits how hard you can brake without being hit. Treat the tram stop as a pedestrian crossing: expect someone to emerge, cover the brakes, and reduce speed before the island. The shopping bag may swing or be dropped, and other passengers may follow her.
2. Can you stop from 38 km/h within 22 m on this surface? What speed should you choose?
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At 38 km/h you cover about 10.6 m/s. Reaction at 0.8 s is about 8.5 m; on wet rails and cobbles braking may need 14–18 m, so total stopping distance is roughly 22–26 m - more than the 22 m available. You cannot rely on stopping from 38 km/h. Reduce to 20–25 km/h now. At 22 km/h (6.1 m/s), reaction is about 4.9 m and braking about 5–7 m, so you can stop within roughly 12 m. Brake upright and before the rails, not while crossing them.
3. If she steps into your lane, what is your escape plan?
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Brake firmly but progressively, keep the bike upright, and avoid grabbing the front brake on the rail. Look for an escape to the left of her, but only if the oncoming lane is clear; do not swerve onto the tram island. Use the horn briefly to warn her. If impact is unavoidable, reduce speed as much as possible and stay off the front brake at the last moment to avoid a low-side fall. After passing, check the mirror and the following car before moving back.