alternatehistory.com

There are several instances of early pioneer motorists travelling on railway tracks for lack of a suitable road. These are of course the exceptions, travelling in places whare cars were as yet unknown. In countries where cars would become common there was already a network of good, smooth road, thanks largely to the campaigning of early bicyclists (many of whom were now pioneer motorists).

Despite the obvious dangers from oncoming or overtaking trains, motoring on rails had advantages in speed, smoothness and lack of dust and hills. Is there any way that this could have become the norm, and it was accepted that vehicles which travelled faster than a 'scorching' cyclistated or a catering horse did not belong on the public roads, and that if special rights of way had to be built for them, then rail was a better option.

How could such a network evolve?
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