I read all of the posts on this subject and read some very good comments.
First chip sealing is a good cost effective practice to prolong the life of
asphaltic pavements.
I support it as part of the city's ongoing pavement maintenance program.
The problem is with the aggregate selection. Current practice has been to use
boiler slag for
the aggregate. However traditionally the aggregate used has been what is
called "pea
gravel" or natural stone. The use of boiler slag began because coal burning
plants needed to
find a use for what had been considered a waste product. As a result boiler
slag is cheaper
than traditional pea gravel.
Long term pea gravel is bike and environmentally friendly. However pea gravel
can present
some short term problems for bikes such as loose gravel. That can most likely
be solved by
pre-coating the pea gravel prior to chip seal application and removing the
excess within two
days - similar to the chip sealing process that uses boiler slag.
It looks like boiler slag is in fact causing flats for bikes - that should be
reviewed by the city.
Boiler slag may also be an environmental concern - although some studies
indicate
otherwise. I would recommend that the environmental aspect be reviewed by the
Committee
of the Environment, with perhaps some new studies. And yes the loose material
is swept up
within one or two days. However my street was just chip sealed and swept, but
an overnight
rain deposited boiler slag fine material in my gutter, in calm spots on the
road and no doubt
into the storm sewer system which leads to our lakes.
I support chip sealing, but we need to review the use of boiler slag.
Let's look at boiler slag on two fronts:
1) Flat tires - discuss with City Engineering, the Board of Public Works
and PBMV.
2) Environmental - encourage the Committee on the Environment to conduct a
study.
This is the same committee that got the Council to ban Coal Tars for
sealing driveways
and parking lots.
Mike Rewey
--------------------------------------------------
On 9 Aug 2011 at 10:46, Robbie Webber wrote:
Dear community of collective wisdom, Can anyone comment about this [below email
from
Ald. Lisa Subeck]? Anyone had a similar experience? Heard other complaints?
Know if a new
material is being used?
I had an email about a problem in Fitchburg forwarded to me this AM, so Steve
Arnold may
be familiar with this, but is Madison also using something sharp and pointy as
aggregate?
Rewey - you must know what's up...
Robbie Webber
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Lisa Subeck <[email protected]>
Date: Tue, Aug 9, 2011 at 9:53 AM
Subject: Chip sealing and bike tires
To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]>
Hi Robbie,
I just had a call from a constituent who is having problems with bike tires
popping due to chip
sealed streets. She commutes by bike and has had to replace tires several times
in the last
few weeks. The people at Erik's Bike Shop indicated to her that the problem is
riding on chip
sealed roads, which she can't avoid getting out of her neighborhood. the folks
at Erik's told
her they have been running into this problem a lot. They said there was even an
organized
ride (MS Ride maybe) last week that had numerous people on the ride pop tires
from a chip
sealed portion of the route.
Since I think of you as an expert on all things bike, I'm curious If you've
heard of this problem
at all. If this is a significant problem, is it something we should put on an
upcoming PBMV
committee agenda? As my constituent pointed out, this doesn't contribute to
making us a
bike friendly city.
Please let me know if you've heard about this problem at all. I will also he
talking to the
appropriate city staff but thought I'd check in with you, too.
Thanks,
Lisa
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