As someone who’s lived on a cobblestone street before, it’s nice to look at, but a lot less functional than asphalt or concrete. Especially trying to walk home from the bar with a few drinks in you.
They’re apparently also pretty good for slowing down cars in pedestrian-heavy areas, but yeah, taking a fall on those after a few drinks does hurt like shit haha
They do, they get very slick in some conditions. In winter/freezing conditions it’s an outright hazard. But there really aren’t that many such streets left, and the few that are are slowly being changed to asphalt too.
You are right. They are. But they’re less common than driveways in the US and I don’t know why you guys make yours so smooth that if there’s freezing weather you can’t even walk up it if there’s the tiniest incline.
Not that this is any sort of competition, just thought about it
I was very fortunate to go on a vacation last month in Belgium where we rode bikes to several different towns.
It was awesome, but the cobblestone streets in some of those old cities are ROUGH. Just bone shaking. The chain on the bike I was riding bounced off once when I needed to shift.
It also makes blisters on your feet hurt A LOT (probably not a problem for most people, but I have a condition that makes me blister a lot more :( it’s ruined so many trips that I would have otherwise enjoyed)
As someone who’s lived on a cobblestone street before, it’s nice to look at, but a lot less functional than asphalt or concrete. Especially trying to walk home from the bar with a few drinks in you.
They’re apparently also pretty good for slowing down cars in pedestrian-heavy areas, but yeah, taking a fall on those after a few drinks does hurt like shit haha
On the pro side, if done well, they outlast every tar road by centuries.
I don’t live in Europe, but I’ve heard horror stories about how slippery those streets get in the rain
They do, they get very slick in some conditions. In winter/freezing conditions it’s an outright hazard. But there really aren’t that many such streets left, and the few that are are slowly being changed to asphalt too.
Also a bitch to walk on in high heels, no matter the weather!
At least 50% of the problem is high heels though. Respect the sacrifice of anyone who wears them
Can confirm, having worked food delivery in the Netherlands.
There’s a really good reason they’re only used on low speed streets and squares, and now large roads.
You are right. They are. But they’re less common than driveways in the US and I don’t know why you guys make yours so smooth that if there’s freezing weather you can’t even walk up it if there’s the tiniest incline.
Not that this is any sort of competition, just thought about it
I was very fortunate to go on a vacation last month in Belgium where we rode bikes to several different towns.
It was awesome, but the cobblestone streets in some of those old cities are ROUGH. Just bone shaking. The chain on the bike I was riding bounced off once when I needed to shift.
It also makes blisters on your feet hurt A LOT (probably not a problem for most people, but I have a condition that makes me blister a lot more :( it’s ruined so many trips that I would have otherwise enjoyed)