This does unfortunately happen multiple times per day. Sometimes it’s smaller incidents where the tram driver can get out and collapse the car’s mirror. Other times the owner of the car comes out of a nearby house after the tram used its bell extensively (like today) and moves the car. And then there are times when police needs to get involved to tow the car which often takes upwards of 1 hour.
The truly infuriating part is that if the tram damages a poorly parked car, the transportation company will have to pay the damages. Poorly parked vehicles never get fined and the owners will only need to pay if the car ends up getting towed.
Why do we accept that drivers sabotage a city’s public transport infrastructure like this?
100% controversial! There could be someone I side. you can’t just ram stuff. The firefighters stuff is a controlled operation while trying to save lives. But endangering people is non acceptable
Well obviously they shouldn’t just ram it before even checking, but if someone goes up to it, sees nobody inside, knocks on the window, and nobody responds, they should absolutely have the ability to forcefully, even if it causes damage, move the car.
Whether that’s by ramming the tram itself into it (which I assume would require changes to the front for safety against damaging the tram itself) or by using some sort of tool that can push it (e.g. something that hooks onto the rails for grip and uses hydraulics to push the car out of the way), damage is acceptable if you decide your bad parking decisions are justified over every single tram rider’s ability to get around, and a ton of money spent to move your car.
At what speeds do you think, a tram, that has stopped and started moving, is going?
The only danger could be to the people standing behind the car, on the sidewalk. But, I think, with enough train horn before the push, it should be safe enough.
I’m thinking the tram would slow down and gently push the car out of the way, with horn warnings before.
and if pushing the car damages another car, then the person who parked wrong is liable.
Although it’s funny to imagine. it shouldn’t be a “full speed ahead brace for impact”.
Yep!
Cars gently pushing other cars when parking is not uncommon where I’m from.
Bumpers are made from plastic for a reason.