Non-slip Flooring Product Aims to Improve Safety for Bicyclists
SlipNOT® Metal Safety Flooring, a manufacturer of non-slip metal flooring products, wants to help bicyclists roll with much more safety.
The company recently released a Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) case study addressing bicycle lane safety.
Here’s what happened: T.Y. Lin International, an architectural firm, was hired to study the inventory of metal grate bridges and their link to bicycle safety. The introduction of the report states: “These metal grate bridges…can be difficult and intimidating for a bicyclist to cross. Depending on the type and direction of the grating, grooves can cause a ‘channeling effect’ or ‘sliding’ for bike tires, and narrow tires can be lodged in gaps between the bridge grates. In addition, the metal can become increasingly slippery when wet, making these bridges even more difficult for bicyclists to safely cross in rain or snow.”
In order to prevent these hazardous situations, FDOT has proactively sought to improve public safety by specifying SlipNOT® on various applications including expansion joint covers, subway emergency exit doors, pedestrian bridge plates, bicycle safety lanes, and vault covers. Specifically, FDOT specified SlipNOT®’s galvanized steel perforated plates to retrofit over an existing grating deck on a bascule bridge in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
The perforated plates were bolted down, providing a durable and secure lane for bicyclists. The perforation allows drainage and since this is an outdoor application, FDOT chose a galvanized finish for corrosion resistance. The high traction SlipNOT® surface provides a safe transit way for cyclists in all weather conditions.
SlipNOT® continues to provide slip resistant solutions for FDOT projects whether it’s directly through the agency or various contractors such as Steel Tech, Inc. of Charlotte, NC. Following successful installations, Steel Tech has continued to utilize SlipNOT® for innovative solutions on complex projects. David Schultz, the owner of Steel Tech Inc., said “The problem of bicycles safely traversing open steel grid bridge decks has been an ongoing issue in many areas of the country. Superimposing slip resistant perforated plates over existing open steel grid installations may prove to be a viable solution. Durability and ease of installation is the key.”
SlipNOT® perforated plates provide increased safety for bicyclists and other bridge patrons throughout Florida with minimal disruption on bridge operations. The flexibility of SlipNOT® products allow companies such as Steel Tech Inc. the ability to creatively address complex safety and operational issues.
Case studies can be found here.
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