3 ms·

Poorer in absolute terms, sure. But take a random sample of 100 people from the city population and compare inflation (calculated including housing!) adjusted i

Poorer in absolute terms, sure. But take a random sample of 100 people from the city population and compare inflation (calculated including housing!) adjusted income and you'll see the opposite.

rightbyte 5y ago
There is a machine on the road under my balcony right now, chugging and chewing asphalt 2 yards wide and spitting it up on a truck in-front of it. Road maintenance must be so much easier today than in the 70s. It feel to me neglect is by choice not necessity.
- croes 5y ago
  But the demands on the roads are also higher. Cars have more horsepower, higher speed, more weight. In addition, the roads are usually poorly repaired, so you have to repair them more often. In addition, the contracts are often tendered for private companies and the cheapest company wins. Thanks to the poor quality, repairs then have to be carried out correspondingly often.
  - MomoXenosaga 5y ago
    Highways need to be completely rebuilt every 10 years. Most countries can't do this hence potholes and non working lights.
    - xyzzyz 5y ago
      > Highways need to be completely rebuilt every 10 years. This is completely false. Even just repaving usually has longer schedule.
      - LargoLasskhyfv 5y ago
        Wouldn't this vary, depending on load and climate?
  - pseudo0 5y ago
    Isn't the vast majority of road damage done by trucks due to their much heavier loads per axle? There probably are more trucks on the roads today to serve our larger population, but at the same time we've also built more roads. No idea how to translate that into average wear over time though per road.
  - zepto 5y ago
    > Cars have more … weight. Really?
    - croes 5y ago
      Thanks to the rise of SUVs.
      - tharkun__ 5y ago
        And apparently not just that (as in more huge cars being bought). Even "small European cars" contribute. Smallest trim/model 1999 F150 curb weight ~3900lbs F150 2020 model ~4000lbs (the F150 apparently can all go up to almost 5000 lbs) VW Jetta 1991 ~2700 lbs VW Jetta 2020 ~3200lbs VW Golf 1992 ~2400lbs VW Golf 2020 ~3000lbs

Poorer in absolute terms, sure. But take a random sample of 100 people from the city population and compare inflation (calculated including housing!) adjusted income and you'll see the opposite.

rightbyte 5y ago

There is a machine on the road under my balcony right now, chugging and chewing asphalt 2 yards wide and spitting it up on a truck in-front of it. Road maintenance must be so much easier today than in the 70s. It feel to me neglect is by choice not necessity.

croes 5y ago
But the demands on the roads are also higher. Cars have more horsepower, higher speed, more weight. In addition, the roads are usually poorly repaired, so you have to repair them more often. In addition, the contracts are often tendered for private companies and the cheapest company wins. Thanks to the poor quality, repairs then have to be carried out correspondingly often.
- MomoXenosaga 5y ago
  Highways need to be completely rebuilt every 10 years. Most countries can't do this hence potholes and non working lights.
  - xyzzyz 5y ago
    > Highways need to be completely rebuilt every 10 years. This is completely false. Even just repaving usually has longer schedule.
    - LargoLasskhyfv 5y ago
      Wouldn't this vary, depending on load and climate?
- pseudo0 5y ago
  Isn't the vast majority of road damage done by trucks due to their much heavier loads per axle? There probably are more trucks on the roads today to serve our larger population, but at the same time we've also built more roads. No idea how to translate that into average wear over time though per road.
- zepto 5y ago
  > Cars have more … weight. Really?
  - croes 5y ago
    Thanks to the rise of SUVs.
    - tharkun__ 5y ago
      And apparently not just that (as in more huge cars being bought). Even "small European cars" contribute. Smallest trim/model 1999 F150 curb weight ~3900lbs F150 2020 model ~4000lbs (the F150 apparently can all go up to almost 5000 lbs) VW Jetta 1991 ~2700 lbs VW Jetta 2020 ~3200lbs VW Golf 1992 ~2400lbs VW Golf 2020 ~3000lbs