Have you skidded on 'tramline tile' surfaces ?

[Ajax Bay]

Just treat them as a cattle grid (but with nowhere near the risk): don't slow down (brake), don't push hard on the pedals (ease off for a second) and don't turn (or if you have to, slow down and turn slowly and deliberately (suggest that's partly the message behind the existence of the chosen 'special' surface). But these surfaces are for the benefit of the less-than-fully sighted who have lots of challenges. A (very small) bit of downside for cyclists sharing the space doesn't really matter, in the scheme of things.

 

[Chris S]

At the end of last year I skidded on tramlines on Corporation Street in Birmingham. I went over the handlebars and hit the ground head first with enough force to cause a slight pain in my neck/shoulder muscles. Fortunately I was wearing a helmet. It was one of the few accidents were it actually made a difference.

 

[shouldbeinbed]

Yes, Ashton New Road in Manchester on my Brompton, massive sideways slide and both feet down to save from falling off. I've seen a few roadies on the same stretch hit the deck and stopped to help one lad when I was not on public transport who was in a bit of pain and struggling to get out of the road.

The stupid design of the track has them repeatedly zig zagging on and off the road so you can't hit them straight and safely. The bike lane diversion round the back of the tram stop I missed seeing was very very poorly signed at the time, better now after me and I guess other people complained, but still not great.
That whole stretch is a cycle killer in waiting and it is very obvious how much of a drop off in cycling there has been down that stretch of arterial route from manchester centre to one of its major conurbation towns. They have so little space to play with that the off carriageway parking bays cut from the pavement are very narrow, the cycle lane is absolutely bang in the door zone and the vehicles moving in the carriageway and trams run a couple of feet from your elbow just to fit it all in.

I rode it a couple of times after it all happened and frankly it scared me to death so I avoid it completely now and use the slightly less direct but safer streets if I'm heading into Ashton or Manchester from work or coming back to work from a Hospital appointment at Tameside.

Fortunately they had the old heavy rail line running a lot of the route from Manchester to Oldham and have made a far better job all round of it here where it does utilise the roadway.

Edit : posted this from reading the original title referring to tramlines only.

Tramline tiles and other raised ground level features to assist visually impaired people are a good thing.

 

[shouldbeinbed]

*MOD*

At the end of last year I skidded on tramlines on Corporation Street in Birmingham. I went over the handlebars and hit the ground head first with enough force to cause a slight pain in my neck/shoulder muscles. Fortunately I was wearing a helmet. It was one of the few accidents were it actually made a difference.

Quick reminder to all we have a dedicated helmet forum for anecdotes and opinions on the efficacy or not of helmets. let's not derail this thread or see it needing further intervention by heading any further down that alleyway. Ta.

 

[tallliman]

By the way, if anyone has crashed on actual tramlines in Sheffield, please report it at www.tramcrash.co.uk - I'm not sure whether there are similar sites for other systems.

If there's a similar site for Nottingham's trams I'll gladly fill it in. 99.1 miles into my first ton but I did finish it!!

 

[fimm]

We have those tiles on a path in Edinburgh that I enjoy using on my Brompton in the summer when the tiles are dry and clean but even then I slow down and take them cautiously. However at this time of year they get covered with leaves, and they are really slippy when they are covered with leaves. And then it gets icy. So I will be on the alternative road route for the next few months.

 

[subaqua]

*MOD*



Quick reminder to all we have a dedicated helmet forum for anecdotes and opinions on the efficacy or not of helmets. let's not derail this thread or see it needing further intervention by heading any further down that alleyway. Ta.

Ooh heading , nice pun .

 

[silica]

Have you skidded on tramline tiles? I mean these things, which are sometimes put across cycle tracks where a footway starts alongside (picture by hesterkw, Copyright: CC Attribution-Share Alike):
View attachment 326539

In a discussion on other things, a few of us have said that they're unnecessary hazards. At least one person seems to think they're essential for visually-impaired people, but I think that cycle tracks should be treated like carriageways and it would suffice for footway crossings to be marked by bobble tiles in the footway only.

So, have you skidded on them? Have you even crashed? I'd like to collect examples that explain to people why tramlines aren't good places

Have you skidded on tramline tiles? I mean these things, which are sometimes put across cycle tracks where a footway starts alongside (picture by hesterkw, Copyright: CC Attribution-Share Alike):
View attachment 326539

In a discussion on other things, a few of us have said that they're unnecessary hazards. At least one person seems to think they're essential for visually-impaired people, but I think that cycle tracks should be treated like carriageways and it would suffice for footway crossings to be marked by bobble tiles in the footway only.

So, have you skidded on them? Have you even crashed? I'd like to collect examples that explain to people why tramlines aren't good places for cycling. Sorry if this brings back any painful memories for anyone.

Department for Transport published
Guidance on the Use of Tactile
Paving Surfaces (2021) should be amended to address the hazard to cyclists where 'corduroy tactile surfaces' (CTS) are laid parallel to the cycle path. Any tyre trench is very likely to off-balance a cyclist to cause a skid or fall. Avoidance by cyclists also endangers the pedestrian. By reversing the direction to lay CTSs transverse to cycleway and parallel to footpath the risk is removed. Any other suggestions?

 

[silica]

Department for Transport published
Guidance on the Use of Tactile
Paving Surfaces (2021) should be amended to address the hazard to cyclists where 'corduroy tactile surfaces' (CTS) are laid parallel to the cycle path. Any tyre trench is very likely to off-balance a cyclist to cause a skid or fall. Avoidance by cyclists also endangers the pedestrian. By reversing the direction to lay CTSs transverse to cycleway and parallel to footpath the risk is removed. Any other suggestions?

I looked for other examples of corduroy tactile surfaces (CTS) being installed parallel to cycle ways in European countries with strong tradition of urban cycling and found none in Netherlands or Germany. Only the UK and Ireland are using CTS in these locations. Blind and Visually-impaired organisations will be the principal authority to consult on design, but we can also learn from international best practice. Safe cycling is safer for pedestrians too.. ??

 

[silica]

Guidance on the Use of Tactile Paving Surfaces

 

[silica]

Guidance on the Use of Tactile Paving Surfaces

 

[AndyRM]

8 years must be close to a record...

 

[Ajax Bay]

8 years must be close to a record...

@mjr recognised this as an issue back in 2016 and shared, in 2016. Eight years later @silica rather than opening a new thread, has brought us up to date (I assume some sort of direct interest). They've joined, searched on here, found this thread exactly 'on topic'. Bravo @silica I say, and to thread necromancy if rejuvenation suggests a change has been made, learning the identified lesson that tramline tiles parallel to the cycling direction of progress is not a good idea (and such a minor change at zero expense too).

 

[AndyRM]

@mjr recognised this as an issue back in 2016 and shared, in 2016. Eight years later @silica rather than opening a new thread, has brought us up to date (I assume some sort of direct interest). They've joined, searched on here, found this thread exactly 'on topic'. Bravo @silica I say, and to thread necromancy if rejuvenation suggests a change has been made, learning the identified lesson that tramline tiles parallel to the cycling direction of progress is not a good idea (and such a minor change at zero expense too).

Jeezo. I wasn't being serious, it's a common forum joke (not just on this one either)...

 

[postman]

Saw a guy in Edinburgh last weekend,raining and he hit the tram line it was just a flash of pink his shirt as he went down sideways.Three people helped him his bars took the punishment,front wheel to the knees and a quick twist should sort them out.