Hypno Toad

Thanks for asking! Just an Easter egg on my hip and abrasion on my elbow - VERY happy I had a long-sleeve jersey, that limestone on the bridge would have ripped me up. This won't keep me off the bike, but will remind me to slow down on the damn bridges. Y'know, the stupid stuff I know but never remember.

blue192

MUPs aren't the problem. The problem is the inline skaters with headphones on and the mom with a baby carriage with 5 bags hanging off the side whilst talking on a mobile phone. If you ride on MUPs late at night they become like bike highways. But wooden bridges I find best to just slow down and cross carefully.

OldsCOOL

No no. It's the oblivious dog walker with a stretched out leash....across the path.

Hypno Toad

I created a thread for this conversation: Why do you hate ALL MUPs?

On this day (40F and overcast), there were no moms with strollers, dog walkers, and no in-line skaters on limestone. I did slow down to pass a man on his phone that didn't hear me, however, that wasn't a big deal since foot traffic has the right-of-way. I will also state (as it discuses in the linked thread), not all MUPs are created equal and not all cities have the same MUP-issues. Minneapolis is fortunate to have very well designed MUPs and *mostly* good users.

Hypno Toad

Reminds me of this edit (shared it before):


Proof that out-of-control dogs on long leashes on MUPs can be an issue for bikes on the road.

GovernorSilver

Sorry you got hurt again, HypnoToad. Heal up fast (again)!

Yendor72

Wow, that sucks, again! The mups we ride are fairly straight and those wood bridges are on very straight areas, so we have less chance of falling.

As far as dogs on leashes, at least that dog in your vid was on a leash. We live out in Mayer and folks tend to let their dogs just run free. I could see one running around in the field next to their owners that were on the trail last week. As I approached (on my fat bike so not too fast) the dog popped up in front of me on the trail and stood there, the owners were to my right as I was passing on the left. Yeah, it was a close one. I was not happy about that. I tell my wife to keep our dog close and not let him run free on his retractable leash, I hope she listens.

Hypno Toad

I have to add a follow up to this most recent fall: I'm working in sweatpants The raspberry on my hip makes it painful to wear jeans (my typical work pants). Fortunately, my office is in my house and only the dogs are here to judge me.

Repeating: I'm very happy that it was cold and I had all my skin covered. I hate to think what I'd look like it were warmer and I was in shorts and short sleeves jersey.

TassR700

We have had similar experiences with some wooden bridges. We did write a letter to the park maintenance (trails are considered a linear park here) to alert them of the problem and they responded by power-washing the bridges and applying a "shark bite" coating that helped a lot. Apparently bikes and rollerbladers had been falling for some time and it just took someone bringing it to their attention. Might be worth a shot for your bridge.

Hypno Toad

Thanks for encouraging me, I debated sending it to the city. This is my city (I pay taxes for these bridges) and I have had three falls on these wood-deck bridges in as many years. The city should address the issue (& I need to learn my lesson about slippery wood bridges).

Yendor72

You have video evidence of the accidents, so I'd send an email with attachments.

We're taking our road bikes out tonight, hoping the rain that went through didn't mess things up too bad on the trail.

Last year they had put some rubber mats on the bridges for whatever reason, I have no idea. When it was cold and wet it was super slick. they took them off about half way through spring. So I think they were trying to eliminate the slickness, but only made it worse. With our weather the way it is up here it may be a bigger challenge than we think. That wood has to have a lot of contraction/expansion and most things sprayed on it may not last.

fietsbob

Next time: walk the bike over the bridge, then re mount on the other side ..

Hypno Toad

That'd be giving up! You gotta get back on that horse that threw you, show that bridge who's the boss!

wphamilton

Our city sprayed some kind of rough rubbery surface over the planks just before/after an intersection of wood bridges. I think it must have been because of requests from citizens.

I really dislike the wood bridges and starting beyond the wood on my commute was a big plus in my last move. I can safely ride across them in any conditions (and have many times) but that's only part of the problem. It's when you're not paying attention, half asleep, or overconfident and don't notice that you find creative new ways to slip on them. I think it would be worth your while to ask the city about it.

GovernorSilver

He also told you to bring a pressure washer on your ride. You gonna do that too?

Yendor72

Better stock up on some Second Skin pads then. Otherwise even the dogs will start looking at you funny.