NPS Painting the Trollheim

[sjclaeys]

As was briefly mentioned in the March trails conditions thread, NPS decided to partially paint the wooden bridge near Roosevelt Island, aka the Trollheim. For whatever reason, the only potion painted is where cyclists need to make some fairly sharp turns to go to or come from the MVT, thus making a previously dangerous section more slippery and thus more dangerous. Everyone good with that?

Topic

[rcannon100]

When the very helpful woman from NPS who was just doing her job was painting trollheim, I went by, saw her masterpiece, and snarked to her “oh good more slippery paint.” She apparently knew the objection and tried to explain “oh no….” but I had already gone by.

I already go through there assuming I am going to crash; this has changed little.

[Vicegrip]

There is such a thing as non slip paint. It is not just paint with grit added and is good for some applications but not this one. In this case paint with non slip grit added would be a good thing. The paint gives a visual warning and the grit gives traction.

I went through that section yesterday and the paint smell was still strong and the paint slightly tacky so I could not tell if it was non slip paint or not. Did not notice any added grit in it as I went by but did not look too hard as I was also managing the tandem through people filled turns.

[Tim Kelley]

I’ve been told in the past that the paint is actually an anti-mold substance. Mold = more slippery. Just think, it could be worse!

[NickBull]

@Tim Kelley 137438 wrote:

I’ve been told in the past that the paint is actually an anti-mold substance. Mold = more slippery. Just think, it could be worse!

Yeah, I think it’s some sort of marine paint. It doesn’t seem to make it more slippery in practice. And it’s good to know that the park service values cyclists lives enough to buy a gallon of paint once a decade or so. This is the second time they’ve painted with this stuff. It’s also the second time where they weirdly don’t just paint the entire area. They’ve partially painted it and then apparently decided their work is done. I guess cyclist’s lives are not worth the two gallons of paint it would require to finish the job.

[ursus]

@NickBull 137476 wrote:

Yeah, I think it’s some sort of marine paint. It doesn’t seem to make it more slippery in practice. And it’s good to know that the park service values cyclists lives enough to buy a gallon of paint once a decade or so. This is the second time they’ve painted with this stuff. It’s also the second time where they weirdly don’t just paint the entire area. They’ve partially painted it and then apparently decided their work is done. I guess cyclist’s lives are not worth the two gallons of paint it would require to finish the job.

I just rode through there this morning. Truly weird looking.

[Judd]

Just rode past. Half painted silliness.

Looks like at one time that whole section was painted based on the remnants on some of the boards.

[Vicegrip]

@Tim Kelley 137438 wrote:

I’ve been told in the past that the paint is actually an anti-mold substance. Mold = more slippery. Just think, it could be worse!

Could be a lot better and for the same cost and effort too. NPS needs to hire a facilities manager or at least listen to someone that knows a little about material and surface maintenance. It ain’t rocket surgery and this is not some kind of new or cutting edge area of maintenance. There are many ways to treat wood for mold and fungal resistance that do not require a film carrier. That is to say they can apply a long term fungicide that does not look bad or become slippery when wet as film paints do. For the same effort of coating the area which they have been doing off and on for years they could add fungicide resistance to a traction increasing coating. Now you have a surface that lasts longer, does not get all slimy and just might be less covered with pedal, handlebar and drive train scars from countless splats.

The sad truth is NPS is being starved to death by congress.

[KWL]

@Tim Kelley 137438 wrote:

I’ve been told in the past that the paint is actually an anti-mold substance. Mold = more slippery. Just think, it could be worse!

Most likely. I did see one of the painters carrying a box of paint cans marked “West Marine.”

[KWL]

@ursus 137551 wrote:

I just rode through there this morning. Truly weird looking.

Needs an image.

[Author]

Replies