They can also be beautiful.
And when they’re made with stones, they also moderate temperature better, they improve drainage, they naturally slow cars down, they make pedestrians more aware of cars, they don’t produce large potholes, they cost less to repair when they do need repairs, they don’t emit VOCs during installation or repair, and they have a lower lifetime cost.
Really few of the most beautiful streets aren't made with stones. Below my preferred ones:
More https://archive.is/2Cq5k
these are great!
In portugal many of the sidewalks are paved with limestone pavers. They were probably like a hundred years old and super charming.
Nice, sidewalks are a good place for them too.
I just discovered someone made a list of all the brick/cobblestone streets in Toronto, there are more of them than I thought, but they're usually just short sections on asphalt streets: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1xXqGP2DrSlHYyEzo4t1grds_ohc&ll=43.711937839670796%2C-79.3963252&z=11
In Portugal many small streets are made of stones too, but every time I go through one of this, I feel that my car is breaking apart.
Also, on the sidewalks made with stone there are a pain on the neck for the people on wheelchair...
I didn’t know they had lower maintenance costs. Is it just the initial installation costs that lead to asphalt being chosen?
Yeah, asphalt has a tendency to crack with every freeze/thaw cycle, whereas bricks and pavers have spaces that allow for some shifting without breaking. So repair frequency is higher with asphalt to start with, but the cost to repair also involves more equipment. Fixing cracked bricks just means taking out the broken one and putting in a new one.
We have a few of these on narrow streets in NYC, but they’re generally uncommon.
I wish I’d see this more!
https://pablohere.contrapeso.xyz/writings/dont-hide-it-make-it-beautiful.html
Great article!
Wow... this street is indeed beautiful
A nice share.
Thank you.
Have a look at the corner on the right. Those bricks look loose. After it rains and if you're unlucky enough to step on that area, dirty water will splash up your leg.
I’m not that fat
You have to be. Lol
I used to hate the sidewalks in China because of this. A puddle of mud forms under loose bricks and it squirts up on anyone walking on it.
It all looks nice until it rains.