Posts Tagged ‘public’

Asphalt shoving: no fun for cyclists

Saturday, June 26th, 2010

We should qualify the title. Some cyclists might like asphalt shoving, especially for getting air.

What is asphalt shoving? It’s the result of high horizontal stresses that cause ripples or washboards to form in asphalt.

In the city of Detroit, you’ll often see this phenomenon at well-used bus stops. The force from the bus stopping causes slight shifts in the asphalt each time.

This uneven pavement can cause problems for unsuspecting cyclists. It can also cause drainage problems.

One solution is to use concrete pads at bus stops, but this is more expensive at the front-end. Still, it’s a good idea on roads with higher levels of bicycle traffic, e.g. Woodward Avenue.

In the meantime, be careful riding those bus routes.