As I pointed out earlier this week, everyone that shops in Fort Collins pays to maintain our local roads (though it’s possible that bicyclists and transit users might pay a little more into the pot than motorists). But the flip side of that same coin leads one to ask: “Which road users make the greatest demands on those tax dollars?” Roads need to be maintained. But some vehicles cause more wear and tear than others, requiring additional maintenance.
There’s a measurement system used by street engineers called the “Equivalent Single Axle Load.” By estimating the types of vehicles that will be on the road, and their frequency of use, engineers can get a sense of how long the road surface will maintain integrity given a certain type of road surface (asphalt, cement, etc.). Heavy use areas may require more expensive, but longer lasting, surface materials, while light use areas will do fine with cheaper materials.
Speed also plays into the equation. In general, a vehicle traveling twice as fast will do twice as much damage to the road. If you think about driving behind someone on a gravel road, you’re more likely to have rocks kicked up into your windshield if they’re traveling quickly than if they’re moseying along at a gentle pace. That’s because they’re exerting more force with the wheels of their vehicle when they’re moving faster.
Read the rest of the story here.
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