Sharing the Roads-- Which Roads?

Those tracks belong to the Norfolk Southern RR. Any fix would require a major track / road realignment. NOT GONNA HAPPEN. The US railroads do not respond well to the public. Think about how many years that the fight to get more crossing guards has been going on, the CSX attitude toward the Greater Memphis Greenline, and the current flap about trains blocking crossings. Take time to cross safely or find a way around.

I tend to have to use Poplar Pike at some point so I can ride on CD Smith Rd. What a great section of road that is. I do sometimes bypass the crossing by taking Southern Ave and crossing onto Poplar pike just East of the tracks.

If I understand correctly all RR right of ways are owned by the RR companies and it's their responsibility to maintain. You might want to find out which RR has responsibility for the tracks. In the meantime I'd find another route. Personally I prefer Stout and Farindon over P.Pike any day of the week!!!

That is a bad spot. I usually do just what you said -- wait for traffic to clear, then swing to the left before crossing. The other thing I do is try to avoid that section. If I'm on Pop Pike heading towards Hacks crossing, I'll often cross over to Stout then get on Farindon to Hacks. These are both wide streeets with bike lanes and no RR tracks. Also, If you're coming South on Gernmantown heading towards Pop Pike, you can turn L on Dogwood, R on Johnny Ln and L on Southern, and not have to cross the tracks (tradeoff-- you have to cross poplar pike).

Your message provides some basic information to those of us who ride and see your message. Possibly you can contact the city of Germantown (if that is under Germantown's jurisdiction) and request that they place a warning sign at the site for cyclists. I doubt that they will replace the tracks for this purpose.

I hope this is the right forum. Does anyone have any suggestins or ideas on how to get a dengerous RR crossing fixed? The crossing in question is on Poplar Pike between Germantown Road and Hacks Cross. Due to the angle the tracks cross the road, you have to go from the right side of your lane to the extreme left just so your wheel does not get caught. It is very dangerous. What can we do about this? Gary