Cobbled Roads - Why?

[Audax67]

Regarding OP question, could they be regarded as "traffic calming with beauty"?

FCVO "calming": you have to ignore the racket. Must be hell for folk who live nearby, especially in touristy villages.

[Bmblbzzz]

I recall reading that noise was one of the reasons cities started tarmaccing streets and also in the uptake of pneumatic tyres by horsedrawn vehicles. Talking about the 1920s.

[cyclop]

It,s obvious; :Having descended Alston high street (steep-cobbled) with a pastie in one hand,trying to control the bike and brake with the other,I can only conclude this is an acid test of ultimate bicycle control. P.S.no way was I ditching the pastie,probably the best I,ve had.

[Mick F]

Only time I rode through Alston was back in May 2008 as part of my Grand Tour on my way from Longtown and south to Grinton.

I had to get off and push up the high street.
Was riding Mercian towing a heavy trailer.

[Northeastperson]

Whitby got rid of its old cobbles in Church street in the old part of town in the seventies. Then some years later the council felt this was a mistake and that tourists missed the cobbles. The council had a vote and decided to put back the cobbles only these weren't the same cobbles so it's kind of fake cobbles now.

[thirdcrank]

An old thread with a picture of a cobbled street in Leeds with tarmac

viewtopic.php?p=41542#p41542

[kingfisher]

I thought that originally they made it easier for the horse to get a better grip when pulling the carts ( that I suspect got heavier and more overloaded ! )

[LollyKat]

I think they had to strew sand on hills in wet weather. But cobbles would have been much harder wearing (remember wheels had metal rims) and less muddy than unsurfaced tracks.

[Manc33]

I think in some places they like to keep part of the original road as a historical thing. As a cyclist it's a pain but I can see why they get kept.

[simonhill]

Thanks for all the replies.

It's moved on now, but I was asking about current and new roads in Portugal. They are an absolute pain.

Reasons for: hard-wearing; easy to repair; cheaper than t'mac; keeps specialist labour employed; tasteful/scenic; slows traffic; etc.

Reasons against: noise - yes this is bad; wear and tear on vehicles resulting in waste and pollution; they are a deterrent to cycling; etc.

They are obviously a traditional part of Portuguese life and it's up to them if they want to keep on with them. Personally, they were one of the few downsides of my tour. A lot of the town's I stayed in were on top of hills. The final km or so was usually a steep climb on setts and then cobbles. I often found this dangerous and more than once got off and walked.

Also the pavements are often mini cobbles and awkward to walk on. I rarely saw anyone with a disability and certainly no wheelchairs. Where are they all.

In contrast to all this are a series of motorway standard roads criss crossing the country. Many are virtually empty due to tolls, with people preferring to use the old roads - where I like to cycle. I sometimes thought cyclists should have the new highways and vehicles could keep the old roads.

Don't let this put you off Portugal as the cobbles are mainly in the towns and there are plenty of superb country roads to cycle and otherwise it's great. Just be aware and get some sturdy tyres.

[mattheus]

I think in some places they like to keep part of the original road as a historical thing.

I think that's right. In some American states they even worship the old stones:

[gxaustin]

That's the yard of bricks at the Indianapolis Speedway. The whole track was originally paved with bricks - hence the nick name "the Brickyard" from days of yore.

I'm sure setts were used because there was no asphalt till the late 19th century. In towns it was easy to fit round tram lines, I surmise.
And in Paris the smallish setts made great ammunition against the police for rioters.

[Jdsk]

I'm sure setts were used because there was no asphalt till the late 19th century. In towns it was easy to fit round tram lines, I surmise.

Yes, the timing of the availability of the different technologies was crucial. Including the rôle of macadam before tarring.

Jonathan