Level crossing cyclist in 'nearest miss' with train

[Jimbuna]

This is one stupid but very lucky woman...

A cyclist came within seconds of being struck by a train when she tried to dodge a closed level crossing barrier in Cambridgeshire.
The train driver was forced to apply the emergency brake when he saw the woman at Waterbeach on 12 September.
Richard Schofield, from Network Rail, said it was "one of the closest near misses we've seen".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england...shire-24364332

[Oberon]

Very stupid indeed. It's the driver I always feel sorry for in times like these, in a situation like that, there's nothing you can do but sound the horn and pray.

[Jimbuna]

He did apply the brakes but I'm unaware how far down the line the train was before it came to a halt....the cyclist actually pedalled around the barrier

[Oberon]

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

He did apply the brakes but I'm unaware how far down the line the train was before it came to a halt....the cyclist actually pedalled around the barrier

That's a Class 170, probably doing about 70mph, weighs about 133 tons, you're probably looking at about six to eight train lengths (approx 566m, 1669ft) at a real ballpark, pulled out of my backside kinda guess.

But yeah, pedalling around the barrier is absolutely retarded, and were it not for the effect on the driver of the train, I would put forward for Darwins law to take its natural course on such idiots.

[Jimbuna]

I laughed at what appeared to be her calm disposition when she cycled off.

[Dread Knot]

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

I laughed at what appeared to be her calm disposition when she cycled off.

I find it odd that she cycled off in the opposite direction she was originally heading.

Makes me wonder if a change of pants was in order.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Dread Knot

I find it odd that she cycled off in the opposite direction she was originally heading.

Makes me wonder if a change of pants was in order.

Beat me to it

[eddie]

Originally Posted by Dread Knot

I find it odd that she cycled off in the opposite direction she was originally heading.

Makes me wonder if a change of pants was in order.

[Betonov]

4 years ago I was riding a train when some cyclist pulled a similar stunt in Ljubljana.

It was not a miss

[Onkel Neal]

Oh man! That was close.

[GoldenRivet]

The driver was forced to apply the emergency brake.

for the purpose of......?

perhaps it would result in her being slightly less dead once struck?

[BrucePartington]

Reviewing the footage, I can't help thinking that regardless of how alert and quick the driver was, the brakes were applied only after passing her.
They both had about 2 seconds to react, at best.
Not enough time for driver and mechanical reaction.

[fireftr18]

At the fire department, we call it "job security."

[CaptainMattJ.]

Originally Posted by GoldenRivet

The driver was forced to apply the emergency brake.

for the purpose of......?

perhaps it would result in her being slightly less dead once struck?

Well for one i think its a bit courteous to at least attempt to stop before you hit someone, even if it is futile. Secondly, he would've had to stop anyways after he hit her, seeing as how if she didnt get smashed out of the way, she'd be dragged/mangled across the tracks if the train kept going.

But that's absolutely insane. That woman was literally a split second from dying. Very scary and very shocking that such a small amount of time can be the difference between life and death. Knowing nothing about this woman, we don't know if she has a husband or kids or something, though she appears somewhat young. In any case, she's incredibly lucky to be alive.

[Spiced_Rum]

It could have been a nomination for this years Darwin Awards, but she got away with it. Will it teach her a valuable life lesson, let’s hope so. However, I am not surprised by her stupidity because so many cyclists are reckless, do not obey roads signs, and are oblivious of what their actions cause. Maybe the train company could bring a prosecution and make her pay compensation for the disruption to the train passengers who had their journey affected by her idiocy.