For many soft road users, spiked shoes and spikes are a permanent part of the winter wardrobe, whether you are going for a walk in the forest, at work or in the shop. Indoors, however, they can cause great damage to both the user and the environment. – It takes a lot of wear and tear on the floors. We see every year that it is a challenge when people use spikes and spiked shoes inside, says Annike Selmer to news. She is head of the public section at Deichman library in Bjørvika. There they see that many visitors have their spikes out – literally. Photo: Vilde Haugen / news – We have concrete floors that are treated every year with a special agent to keep them looking good, and this coating does not withstand spikes very well. There is carpet flooring above the floors, and this withstands spikes even worse, says Selmer. Costly habit The library has between five and ten thousand visitors daily. Selmer says that they are experiencing that more and more people are using the aid when they are out on slippery roads. – Tourists in particular are very quick to put on spikes and spiked shoes as soon as they arrive in Oslo. They may not be as used to snow and ice, laughs the section leader. – Most people are good at taking these off when they come in, but not all. Photo: Emma Wold/IFI The damage is not just cosmetic. They also scratch holes in the maintenance box. – There is of course an expected part of the wear and tear that we expect. But stings contribute extra to these injuries. The longer we manage to keep it looking good, the less money has to be spent on maintenance, says Selmer. – Lack of folk customs According to IFI, the interest organization for the flooring industry in Norway, spiked shoes and spikes cause damage to floors worth several million kroner every single year. Every day, Norwegians stomp into shopping centres, doctor’s offices, hairdressers, shops and other public places wearing sharp footwear, says Kristian Owren, CEO of IFI. – The spikes are like nails, he says. Owren adds that even ceramic tiles, which most people think of as a hard and robust material, cannot withstand spikes. This causes dirt and moisture to penetrate and cause discolouration, and in the worst case can cause the floor to disintegrate. Kristian Owren, CEO of IFI. Photo: Press photo/IFI Owren is clear in his speech: People have to toughen up. – I believe that there is a lack of folk customs. Few of us wear spiked shoes at home in our own living room. – Spiked shoes are a great aid, but they are meant to be used outside. Opposite effect Walking inside with spikes or spiked shoes can also be counterproductive, says Owren. – Indoors, you achieve the exact opposite, namely that they do not provide a hold. Especially on tiles, it can feel like walking in a mirror. EXPENSIVE MAINTENANCE: Pointed shoes contribute to more frequent maintenance of floors and stairs. It doesn’t look pretty either, says section leader Annike Selmer. Photo: Vilde Haugen / news At Deichman, they have taken a simple but effective measure to limit the damage by placing a stool at the entrance that can be used. Owren encourages shop owners and businesses to make arrangements for people to be able to remove the stings when entering a building. – It makes it easier for people to take them off. At the same time, those who wear spiked shoes or spikes should think a little before leaving home, he adds. – If you are going to a shopping center or museum, spiked shoes may not be the best footwear.
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– Lack of folk customs – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
