Loud Roads

"TheRealBicycleBuck" (therealbicyclebuck) 08/19/2015 at 09:40 • Filed to: None

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Louisiana is known for noisy roads. Concrete is the preferred building material, so our roads provide the driver with a nice clack at every expansion joint.

It appears that they weren’t noisy enough, so someone decided to do this:

I can’t find anything in the DOT specs that require this texture, but I can attest to the fact that it is LOUD. I’d like to see a paper on the advantages and disadvantages of this surface. I’m sure that it provides additional friction and it seems to do a fair job of shedding water, but I wonder about the additional wear to tires and the longevity of the pavement itself.

Inquiring minds want to know.

EL_ULY > TheRealBicycleBuck 08/19/2015 at 09:42

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dat loud whine on some roads ticks me off. But when you exit onto a nice smooth (usually darker surface) and the noise goes away.... ahh bliss :]

crowmolly > TheRealBicycleBuck 08/19/2015 at 09:45

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Reduces wet stopping distance.

TheRealBicycleBuck > crowmolly 08/19/2015 at 09:46

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Add one to the positives column.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > TheRealBicycleBuck 08/19/2015 at 09:49

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Sometimes ground/lined sections get added to roads to remind people to slow down before intersections or annoy them into slowing on a curve as well as to improve traction when wet. I have a friend in Alabama who pointed such a curve out to me and said that an acquaintance who drove that route every day had seen his tire wear go through the roof. Anecdotal, but seems supportable.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > TheRealBicycleBuck 08/19/2015 at 09:56

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First time I experienced the clackity clack of concrete freeways was my first trip to michigan (where I now live).

It was so loud, we almost pulled over on the highway thinking we had a flat tire.

TheRealBicycleBuck > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 08/19/2015 at 09:59

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Not the case here. This texture is applied over several miles of roadway.

The picture was taken when I had an opportunity to stop. All of the others were blurry for some reason.

By the way, is it illegal to open the door while driving so you can take a picture of the road? I can guarantee it’s hard - holding the door open with my elbow so I can hold the phone in my left hand all while doing 45mph. I don’t know why the people behind me kept honking. It wasn’t like I had to shift at the same time....

(Just kidding!)

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 08/19/2015 at 10:02

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On the other hand, coming down Woodward or the M59, with the windows down, at night, volume up, in the middle of summer at ~50-60mph with that thudthudthud letting you know you’re making progress is a wonderful feeling. And the fact that the lights are so well syncronized that you can go all the way from the I-94 to Utica without hitting a red is just icing on the cake.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > TheRealBicycleBuck 08/19/2015 at 10:05

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I have to assume wear acceleration is related to how deeply the road is grooved, and really mild grooving would have less of an effect. The wear is also going to be higher and higher the faster someone is going, because the instantaneous shear required to push the car forward and steer is higher. Doing this for miles at a time... OY.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 08/19/2015 at 10:08

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Well, that’s nice but I’d prefer the smooth.

It’s so loud that I have to talk louder on bluetooth for people to hear me when I get a phone call.

We SERIOUSLY thought we had a flat on 275 the first time I drove it. In rush hour traffic these expansion gaps have expanded so much that it’s like we’re driving over thin (but deep) pot holes every concrete section. In traffic my little Milan will feel like it drops into them when I roll through.

It’s terrible.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 08/19/2015 at 10:11

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Funny thing, I usually hate concrete roads too. Yet I still maintain that the *well maintained—downtown Detroit need not apply* stretches of urban Michigan concrete roads are awesome.

TheRealBicycleBuck > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 08/19/2015 at 10:11

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We are fortunate that the road is fairly straight. We are unfortunate that there are at least 10 signalized intersections and hundreds of driveways for businesses and residential areas along this road. There is a lot of stopping and starting going on.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 08/19/2015 at 10:14

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just keep them off the freeway and we’re good lol

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 08/19/2015 at 10:18

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Suits me. The thuds get a bit too fast and bumpy on the highway.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 08/19/2015 at 10:22

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We’ve come to an agreement, Michigan Government I hope you’re listening we’ve decided all local roads are approved to be concrete, and all Interstates must be paved asphalt from now on.

thanks.

Tapas > TheRealBicycleBuck 08/19/2015 at 10:42

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You wouldn’t have that problem if you had a Lamborghini...pleb.

Just kidding :D

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 08/19/2015 at 10:43

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Additional stipulation: Concrete needs to be well maintained. (Looking at you Detroit) Pouring 1” of ashphalt into a 2” pothole and chipping off the edges doesn't count.

ly2v8-Brian > TheRealBicycleBuck 08/19/2015 at 10:43

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Turn the grooves 90 degrees so that they are parallel to the road. Bam problem solved.

TheRealBicycleBuck > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 08/19/2015 at 10:53

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“On the other hand, coming down Woodward or the M59, with the windows down, at night, volume up, in the middle of summer at ~50-60mph with that thudthudthud letting you know you’re making progress is a wonderful feeling.”

It’s best when the cadence of the road matches the beat of the song.

On the other, other hand, when it’s late at night and you are tired, the ka-thump, ka-thump, ka-thump of the road acts like a metronome and can put you to sleep.

TheRealBicycleBuck > ly2v8-Brian 08/19/2015 at 10:59

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I’m not a fan of this idea. With them going across the road, they do help channel water to the sides.

One of the drawbridges I used to cross on my motorcycle had a metal grating where the longitudinal part of the pattern was more pronounced than the cross pattern. The tires would try to follow the pattern. Feeling a bike wiggle around underneath you at speed is never fun.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 08/19/2015 at 11:00

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How about “Looking at you MDOT!”

ly2v8-Brian > TheRealBicycleBuck 08/19/2015 at 11:04

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We already have the roads I described up here. I noticed no difference other than much quieter. Though I can't vouch for motorcyclists

crown victor victoria > TheRealBicycleBuck 08/19/2015 at 11:20

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If I have to choose between them doing this or just allowing the potholes to continue to spawn, I’ll take the textured roadways.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > TheRealBicycleBuck 08/19/2015 at 12:23

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I had one a few weeks ago where the tune of the song followed the pitch of the engine as I accelerated, and somehow was lined up perfect enough that it followed the upshift as well :)

Recommend

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 08/19/2015 at 12:23

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Recommend.