City: No streetcar rides for public right now

Cincinnati's streetcar may be a novelty, but it's not a toy.

Test-driving the streetcar through the streets is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. Tuesday, and city officials released a list of dos and don'ts for motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists ahead of another milestone for the Downtown and Over-the-Rhine rail system.

Among the don'ts: No one from the public will be allowed to board the streetcar during the rigorous, months-long safety testing phase. City and transit authority officials reiterated that on Monday, a day after an OTR resident was allowed to board the streetcar during an initial test run in which a tow truck slowly pulled the powerless vehicle around the 3.6-mile route. A staff member for streetcar manufacturer CAF USA allowed long-time project advocate Derek Bauman to hop on board for a brief ride.

Bauman chuckled about now being the answer to a trivia question: Name the first passenger to ride the city's modern streetcar system?

"Nobody meant any harm," Bauman said. "I walked on after the guy asked me if I wanted to and next thing you know, the doors closed and we started moving. Then they stopped it, and I disembarked."

The main testing phase calls for the system's overhead power lines to be turned on, and the streetcar will be driven without paying passengers through the streets of OTR. The federal government requires each streetcar to run for 300 miles without incident before a vehicle can be approved safe enough to open to the public.

The first of five streetcars is scheduled to hit the streets for testing in preparation for the system to open to the public in mid-September. No road closures or police escorts are planned as part of this week's test, which is designed to simulate traffic conditions. Testing also is scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, starting at 9 a.m each day. The streetcar will only be tested this week along the OTR portion of the route, because crews are finishing up work on the Downtown part of the loop.

Bauman, a tireless advocate for the project, boarded the streetcar as the so-called "dead-pull" test was wrapping up Sunday afternoon near the maintenance garage in Over-the-Rhine. He was live-streaming a video update on social media to inform the public about what was going on. Bauman is the regional director of the passenger-rail advocacy group, All-Aboard Ohio, and runs popular Twitter and Facebook pages for the streetcar.

"There was no prior approval or knowledge," city spokesman Rocky Merz said. "One of the out-of-town CAF staff let the individual on, which should not have occurred."

Safety measures will be in place to try to avoid any member of the public from boarding the streetcar during the testing phase, transit authority officials said. The streetcar will be simulating the route, so it will be making stops at on-street boarding platforms. Signs warning people not to board will be posted at each stop, transit authority spokeswoman Sallie Hilvers said. The streetcar is equipped with video cameras, which will be working during the testing phase.

"The operator will be able to see all camera angles, and police will be called if anyone tries to board," Hilvers said.

Streetcar hits the streets: What you need to know

Here is a look at other tips and advice for motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists as the streetcar testing phase begins:

• Motorists are allowed to travel in the same lane as the streetcar, but should take extra care when stopping and starting behind the rail vehicle. Streetcars cannot stop as quickly as rubber-tired vehicles. The streetcar must obey the same traffic laws that are required of all motorists, including the posted speed limit.

• Parking is prohibited in the curb lane in front of or behind station stops to allow room for the streetcar to maneuver without obstruction. Passenger vehicles in these areas will be towed.

• Overhead power lines are high voltage. Contact with wires could be fatal.

• Don't cross in front of a moving streetcar.

• Obey all signs and traffic signals.

• Motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists should stop and look both ways before crossing the tracks.

• Pedestrians should cross the street only at designated crosswalks.