Larry presented a very good history.
We've been presented that it is either pea gravel or coal slag for sealing our
streets. While I
support the sealing of streets (but not necessarily with coal slag) we've been
given an
either/or scenario. Let's look at it differently.
I suggest that we use fractured stone or stone chips that are pre-coated. They
do it in Ireland
where the chips are actually pretty big. Yes, it will cost a little more, but
the street will be
"ready to go" right after application, there will be no glass slivers that
cause flat tires and it
removes the environmental question surrounding the using of coal slag in urban
and
residential areas.
Mike Rewey
--------------------------------------------------
On 12 Aug 2011 at 8:27, Larry D. Nelson wrote:
Let me attempt to give some background on this issue, Kevin. I am sure that
Mike Rewey can add information as well.
· Counties and local municipalities would prefer to maintain roads by
grinding off the surface and replacing with new asphalt every 15 to 20
years.
That takes a lot of petroleum and energy in exchange for a smooth surface.
· Sealing the surface with aggregate and water emulsified asphalt every
five
years seals the cracks and, for a residential street, allows the pavement
to be
maintained indefinitely. The material covers the imperfections but does not
reduce them but that is not generally a problem on residential streets where
there is a demand for slower traffic.
· In the early 1970s, air pollution concerns required the shift from
asphaltic
cutback materials to water emulsified materials to reduce the release of
volatile compounds into the atmosphere. The old material was bad for the
air
but it was excellent for pavements.
· The City of Madison used chip seal on its 80 miles of unimproved streets
but would not employee the material on its improved streets. City policy
assessed the cost of the pavement to the property owner and residents of
unimproved streets would tolerate the pea gravel and oil rather than be
assessed for an improved street. Dane County did the work.
· The use of pea gravel has some serious problems. As I said, bikers were
particularly impacted because "it´s like biking on marbles." Also, pea
gravel
is mined from glacial outwash deposits, often along streams. Getting a
quarry/surface mine in Dane County is pretty difficult.
· Dane County Recycling Coordinator, working with the Dane County
Highway Department, successfully demonstrated using recycling materials
from power plants for aggregate on County projects.
· Based on my observations, the recycled materials adhere to the pavement
better than pea gravel. And, people can walk and bike on the material
almost
immediately.
Givenour experience in using pea gravel in past years and probability of bike
crashes, I think its use is too great a risk to the public.
Larry
From:[email protected] [mailto:bikies-
[email protected]] On Behalf Of Kevin Luecke
Sent:Thursday, August 11, 2011 3:54 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject:Re: [Bikies] MS Ride and tires
I will chime in because I keep seeing mention of tire choice making a big
impact on
the flats people are reporting. Tires definitely make a big difference in flat
prevention
- my commuter bikes have heavy, slow rolling, uncomfortable tires that are damn
near impossible to flat. I never carry patches or tubes on my commuters.
On my road bike I ride typical training tires: 23c, narrow, light tires. Why?
They are
noticeably faster and more comfortable than heavily armored tires.
In the last four years I have had a total of two flats in the Madison area on
these tires
(and one was because I let the tire visibly wear too thin). This summer my wife
and I
have had at least 6 flats! Nothing has changed on the equipment side of things,
so I
have to think it is something on the road that is causing more flats.
Every time I have have examined the tires, there are more and more little cuts,
usually filled with very small chips of what looks like glass. After all of
these
messages, and taking a closer look at what is out on the road, I am now
convinced
that it is the coal slag being used as chip-seal aggregate. While I like that a
practical
use is being found for what is otherwise a waste product, this may not be the
best use
for it. And Larry, you mentioned that this is "less expensive" than pea gravel -
shouldn't coal plants be paying municipalities to take it off their hands or at
least
giving it away for free? Otherwise they'd have to pay to dump it. Seems like the
munis are getting screwed!
Kevin
--
KevinLuecke
LeadPlanner, Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin
www.bfw.org | 608-251-4456
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