[PRCo] Re: Fwd: [EastPennTraction] Fwd: Upper Darby, Pa. - SEPTA to remove LRT crossing gates

[Ken and Tracie]

I remember mentioning that when I was a child, frequent Milwaukee Road 
trains, some traveling at a high rate of speed, used to cross Villard Avenue 
in the former Town of North Milwaukee with nothing more than flashers. 
Motorists respected (or at least feared) the trains. There were frequent 
movements at the easternmost crossing near the North Milwaukee Shops.

A generation later, there were gates installed to stop all the collisions. 
So people started driving around the dropped gates.

My point is, if people are irresponsible enough to require the installation 
of crossing gates and then want them removed because they perceive these 
gates as an impediment, SEPTA should find a way to reach an agreement to not 
be held
responsible for any liabilities at any of the affected crossings.

When I was in Drivers' Ed, we were taught the physics of railed vehicle 
versus automobile and which vehicle ALWAYS had the right of way.

Too bad there will be operators who will have to live with the deaths caused 
by morons colliding with their trolleys.

K.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Schneider Fred" <fwschneider at comcast.net>
To: <pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org>
Cc: "Edward Havens ' B." <edhavens at cox.net>; "Bente Bruce" 
<bbente at bellsouth.net>
Sent: Wednesday, March 04, 2009 11:48 AM
Subject: [PRCo] Fwd: [EastPennTraction] Fwd: Upper Darby, Pa. - SEPTA to 
remove LRT crossing gates


> This is wonderful ... safety is less important than holding up
> motorists.   We must remove the gates at grade crossings because they
> are holding up the autos.   I think the writer for the Archie Bunker
> show had the write word for these people.... dingbats.
> Any one out there want to make a wager on how soon SEPTA gets sued
> because a trolley hits a motorist and the lawyer says you should have
> removed the gates?   I think we need a pool here guys.
>
> Fred Schneider