From the spec sheet of the blue coating being used on CSH3:
Friction Wet. ASTM E-303 British Pendulum Tester
Wheel path: coated 64, uncoated 57
adjacent to curb [kerb]: coated 73, uncoated 60
(I don't really know what this means, but you might!)
Showing posts with label csh. Show all posts
Showing posts with label csh. Show all posts
Saturday, 26 June 2010
Cycle Super Highway - users views
I've been on the A13 CSH - CSH3 (in the dry) - see previous post - and I experienced no grip problems whatsoever, so I'm puzzled by the reports of slipperiness. If you know of any incidents of skidding, please let me know details - where, when, weather. Obviously first hand reports are important - everything else could be a rumour tracing back to one incident.
Whilst I share sceptcism about painting the route blue just to brand it, I am only interested in this context to hear about safety concerns/issues.
If you have used the route without problems since it has been painted, as I have, please also let me know where, when and weather.
Whilst I share sceptcism about painting the route blue just to brand it, I am only interested in this context to hear about safety concerns/issues.
If you have used the route without problems since it has been painted, as I have, please also let me know where, when and weather.
My Cycling Super Highway ride
I’ve just ridden from River Road Barking (eastern end of CSH3) to Bow Creek (boundary of Newham with Tower Hamlets) and back as far as Jenkins Lane, Barking (a bit to the west of River Road in Newham) both ways on the southern side of the A13 (I think the northern side is only designated LCN+ route 13).
There was nothing new in this section of the route as far as I can see except the blue paint on the areas that were previously green. The weather was warm and dry with a strong breeze and I could not perceive any problems at all with the surface being slippery. I could not produce the slightest skid by accelerating or braking hard in a straight line. I did a very unscientific test with tap water from my drinking bottle and couldn’t perceive that the surface was particularly slippery when wet.
I am assuming that any infrastructure changes would be underway or complete, given the launch date. I am not that familiar with the route in detail west of Woolwich Manor Way, but I saw nothing any different to the type of provision on the rest of the recently upgraded stretch of the A13.
I saw some chaps actually applying the paint in Canning Town. They were using Streetbond SP150E.
From what I can see nothing of any consequence has been done here to change conditions for cycling, unless the slipperiness in the wet is worse than before as alleged, which would be very bad.
The white centre lines, give way markings and cycle decals have all been painted over and presumably will have to be re-done. This all just seems like a waste of paint, time and money on a vanity project carried out at a time when the public sector faces drastic cutbacks.
As to the launch event, it seems it can only be – based on the section of route that I saw - an attempt to pass off a paint job as something genuinely new or different, which is deceitful in my book.
There was nothing new in this section of the route as far as I can see except the blue paint on the areas that were previously green. The weather was warm and dry with a strong breeze and I could not perceive any problems at all with the surface being slippery. I could not produce the slightest skid by accelerating or braking hard in a straight line. I did a very unscientific test with tap water from my drinking bottle and couldn’t perceive that the surface was particularly slippery when wet.
I am assuming that any infrastructure changes would be underway or complete, given the launch date. I am not that familiar with the route in detail west of Woolwich Manor Way, but I saw nothing any different to the type of provision on the rest of the recently upgraded stretch of the A13.
I saw some chaps actually applying the paint in Canning Town. They were using Streetbond SP150E.
From what I can see nothing of any consequence has been done here to change conditions for cycling, unless the slipperiness in the wet is worse than before as alleged, which would be very bad.
The white centre lines, give way markings and cycle decals have all been painted over and presumably will have to be re-done. This all just seems like a waste of paint, time and money on a vanity project carried out at a time when the public sector faces drastic cutbacks.
As to the launch event, it seems it can only be – based on the section of route that I saw - an attempt to pass off a paint job as something genuinely new or different, which is deceitful in my book.
TfL view on Cycle Super Highway
A TfL officer wrote this on 14 June. I have annotated with comments in [ ]
"Yes we are aware of some reports [about where?] that some people have expressed concern as to the skid resistance of the surface. We have reviewed these comments and they do not appear to match with the actual performance of the surface when it has been assessed, either informally by cyclists riding on the surface and specifically testing its grip with a bike in a range of conditions, or by some more formal testing that we have undertaken. [my reports are from cyclists using the route]
In overall quality terms we expect the experience to be a very positive one for cyclists, as in many cases the blue surface is being applied after re-surfacing or other carriageway works which will have extensively improved the ride performance. [not in the case of A13 in Barking/Newham - relatively new cycle tracks are being 'painted']
There are three types of blue surface being used on Barclays Cycle Superhighways.
The first is a ‘high friction’ surface which you will be able to observe at junctions. This has a high level of skid resistance and is a blue form of other high friction surfaces currently used in these circumstances.
The second is an ‘encapsulated’ surface (where the aggregate used to provide grip is encapsulated within a blue glue-like material). This is being used ‘on-carriageway’ on links in-between junctions where the cycle lane forms part of the highway and provides a level of skid resistance equivalent to tarmac or other surfaces (such as bus lane surfacing).
The third is a blue paint which is applied ‘off-carriageway’ (e.g. on pavement or shared cyclist/pedestrian mixed use circumstances) which has a level of skid resistance appropriate for that circumstance. [This seems to be what has been used in Barking, though reports question whether the level of skid resistance is "appropriate"].
Each of these surfaces has undergone rigorous pretesting to review fade, wear and skid-resistance. Formal skid-resistance testing has also occurred at a significant number of locations on Route 7. Our tests to date have demonstrated that the surfaces are fit for purpose and are performing to a satisfactory level when being applied ‘on the ground’.
One effect that may be occurring is that when the new surface is first laid it is very blue and appears quite smooth and slick. We believe that some cyclists may be perceiving this as slippery even though in practice it is not.
If you have any specific examples of locations that any of your members feel do not provide appropriate levels of skid resistance, please do let me know as we will of course look into it. [I have e-mailed the writer today].
"Yes we are aware of some reports [about where?] that some people have expressed concern as to the skid resistance of the surface. We have reviewed these comments and they do not appear to match with the actual performance of the surface when it has been assessed, either informally by cyclists riding on the surface and specifically testing its grip with a bike in a range of conditions, or by some more formal testing that we have undertaken. [my reports are from cyclists using the route]
In overall quality terms we expect the experience to be a very positive one for cyclists, as in many cases the blue surface is being applied after re-surfacing or other carriageway works which will have extensively improved the ride performance. [not in the case of A13 in Barking/Newham - relatively new cycle tracks are being 'painted']
There are three types of blue surface being used on Barclays Cycle Superhighways.
The first is a ‘high friction’ surface which you will be able to observe at junctions. This has a high level of skid resistance and is a blue form of other high friction surfaces currently used in these circumstances.
The second is an ‘encapsulated’ surface (where the aggregate used to provide grip is encapsulated within a blue glue-like material). This is being used ‘on-carriageway’ on links in-between junctions where the cycle lane forms part of the highway and provides a level of skid resistance equivalent to tarmac or other surfaces (such as bus lane surfacing).
The third is a blue paint which is applied ‘off-carriageway’ (e.g. on pavement or shared cyclist/pedestrian mixed use circumstances) which has a level of skid resistance appropriate for that circumstance. [This seems to be what has been used in Barking, though reports question whether the level of skid resistance is "appropriate"].
Each of these surfaces has undergone rigorous pretesting to review fade, wear and skid-resistance. Formal skid-resistance testing has also occurred at a significant number of locations on Route 7. Our tests to date have demonstrated that the surfaces are fit for purpose and are performing to a satisfactory level when being applied ‘on the ground’.
One effect that may be occurring is that when the new surface is first laid it is very blue and appears quite smooth and slick. We believe that some cyclists may be perceiving this as slippery even though in practice it is not.
If you have any specific examples of locations that any of your members feel do not provide appropriate levels of skid resistance, please do let me know as we will of course look into it. [I have e-mailed the writer today].
More on Barking's Cycle Super Highway
A local LCC member who has tried out the CSH describes it as having a "mirror finish". I advise staying off it
Friday, 11 June 2010
Cycling Superhighway in Barking
TfL's contractors have been out with their blue paint painting the green cycle track alongside the A13 blue, part of branding it as a Cycling Super Highway. I've tried to keep an open mind on this, but by first reports, it's not looking too good.
The second report claims that the new surface is slippery when wet. I can't confirm this, but please be careful and make sure you report the matter if you do have problems.
Opinion 1 (professional): 'I must admit the quality of the routes as shown in the attached photos, does leave something to be desired, I am hoping this is only the first coat?'
Opinion 2 (daily commuter): 'As a daily cycle commuter from Hornchurch to Liverpool Street, I cannot believe what is going on within B & D and Newham. The blue paint that has been applied to the green high adhesion cycle route surface is dangerous. In the dry weather it is poor. When it is wet it is lethal, like cycling on ice.
There is no way a paint will provide the quality of surface that is needed for cycling in all weathers. Most of us cyclists are having to cycle on the pavement because this surface is not safe! In addition, how does Blue paint transform a cycle route into a "Cycle super highway"?? '
Saturday, 22 May 2010
How super is your bike lane?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/may/20/super-bike-lane
With the launch of the cycle super highways this summer, the Guardian is doing an on line assessment of the quality of what it calls "bike lanes", including the CSH. (Conventionally cycle lanes are in the carriageway, cycle paths are away from the carriageway and cycle tracks are alongside but not on the carriageway - though shared unsegregated use of the footway is not normally thought of as a cycle track. Cycleways serves as a generic term for all these things).
One of the first CSH's starts/ends in Barking by Greatfields Park. There's a launch event on Saturday 24 July - details to follow.
With the launch of the cycle super highways this summer, the Guardian is doing an on line assessment of the quality of what it calls "bike lanes", including the CSH. (Conventionally cycle lanes are in the carriageway, cycle paths are away from the carriageway and cycle tracks are alongside but not on the carriageway - though shared unsegregated use of the footway is not normally thought of as a cycle track. Cycleways serves as a generic term for all these things).
One of the first CSH's starts/ends in Barking by Greatfields Park. There's a launch event on Saturday 24 July - details to follow.
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