Have you skidded on 'tramline tile' surfaces ?

[Ajax Bay]

Let us not continue to confuse this thread with those metal things that trams run on.
This is @mjr 's OP:

 

[Pat "5mph"]

I haven't - yet! - maybe because I do avoid them in wet weather.

 

[ColinJ]

Funnily enough, I noticed those things for the first time on my most recent ride along the Exe Estuary Trail. It was dry so no problems with grip.

I assumed that the direction of the lines was intended to be comfortable for cyclists on the cycle side of the path and uncomfortable on the pedestrian side?

 

[wiggydiggy]

Let us not continue to confuse this thread with those metal things that trams run on.
This is @mjr 's OP:
View attachment 732619

Look at the state of that tile, with enough speed you could get some serious air (or a busted wheel going the other way!).

The only things I have skidded on are things I really should have expected to skid on like snow, ice or moss. I've been generally ok on these tiles.

 

[AndyRM]

I've got to admit I don't really get it either, unless you're going at a weird angle over them I can't see how there's going to be an issue: they're not slippery unless covered in ice/leaves.

 

[Dadam]

I've got to admit I don't really get it either, unless you're going at a weird angle over them I can't see how there's going to be an issue: they're not slippery unless covered in ice/leaves.

They’re very slippery when wet and sometimes are placed where you are likely to hit them when turning. Like this one on my commute. Junction of Meadow Road and Sweet St, outside the Halfords. I haven’t come off but had a couple of disconcerting rear wheel skids in wet conditions.

Right at the moment it’s academic as they’ve been digging up the whole junction for most of the year. No idea what they’re trying to do apart from randomly dig holes, throw cones about and put signs to say cycleway closed with no indication of where to go. 🙄

 

[AndyRM]

They’re very slippery when wet and sometimes are placed where you are likely to hit them when turning. Like this one on my commute. Junction of Meadow Road and Sweet St, outside the Halfords. I haven’t come off but had a couple of disconcerting rear wheel skids in wet conditions.

Right at the moment it’s academic as they’ve been digging up the whole junction for most of the year. No idea what they’re trying to do apart from randomly dig holes, throw cones about and put signs to say cycleway closed with no indication of where to go. 🙄

Maybe different ones have different materials? The ones round here aren't slippy when wet, but I guess I don't ride on paths that use them much so I probably haven't noticed.

 

[C R]

Maybe different ones have different materials? The ones round here aren't slippy when wet, but I guess I don't ride on paths that use them much so I probably haven't noticed.

There's a few around here, a couple in my commute route. I can't say I noticed anything problematic with them. There's a type which are made of a rubber like material that do get quite dangerous when wet, for both pedestrians and cyclists.

 

[presta]

The ones round here aren't slippy when wet

You mean the grooves don't play Bon Jovi when you ride over them?

 

[AndyRM]

You mean the grooves don't play Bon Jovi when you ride over them?

I can't think of anything much worse.

 

[Chris S]

Have you skidded on 'tramline tile' surfaces ?

Yes, today at the top of New Street. I nearly went into a police officer getting out of his car.

 

[mjr]

I've got to admit I don't really get it either, unless you're going at a weird angle over them I can't see how there's going to be an issue: they're not slippery unless covered in ice/leaves.

You've named two of the main problems with my local ones there. Leaves on them aren't cleared well and moss grows in the cracks, as the cycleway sweeper can't really get in them well. The DfT book says to install them 1.2m back from the corner, if I recall correctly, which would give you some chance of straightening up before hitting them, but Norfolk county council has a bad habit installing them right on the exit, so you almost always hit them at a bad angle. Norfolk 'n' good, yet again!

Worst of all is when the round -top variant are used instead, which is both more hazardous to cyclists and means something else to visually impaired walkers, possibly edge of a step. That error was more common in Somerset, though.

 

[ColinJ]

You've named two of the main problems with my local ones there. Leaves on them aren't cleared well and moss grows in the cracks, as the cycleway sweeper can't really get in them well.

Ah - that really would be a problem...

I walked out into my back yard a few evenings ago after rain and almost fell flat on my back after slipping on a damp moss-covered paving slab!

I hadn't noticed the moss on the slabs in dry conditions but it became a lethal slimy mess when wet.

 

[rydabent]

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.

Not really a problem if you are on a tadpole trike.

 

[PedallingNowhereSlowly]

Personally, I've come across a few of these which I've found to be very slippery when wet. Those made of concrete.

On a narrow tyred bike without an abundance of trail, they can be a trifle 'interesting' unless you reach them absolutely square on and either dead centre of a groove or plateau. Less of a problem on bikes with a lot of trail and wider / lower pressure tyres.