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We have got to come up with an inexpensive and non-slippery solution for painting streets white in these cities. I know it’s possible, but all of the existing s

We have got to come up with an inexpensive and non-slippery solution for painting streets white in these cities. I know it’s possible, but all of the existing solutions seem to be really expensive or change the grip of the pavement, or else just don’t last very long.

mikestew 2y ago
but all of the existing solutions seem to be really expensive or change the grip of the pavement, or else just don’t last very long. …or make you go snowblind while you’re trying to drive down the street. Just the thought of Phoenix in July while walking on a completely white surface makes my eyes hurt.
jandrese 2y ago
Would it be so bad to use concrete instead? Sure the up front cost is higher, but it has a higher albedo and lasts longer, especially since Phoenix doesn't have snowplows tearing up the streets.
- andrewxdiamond 2y ago
  The total cost of ownership differences between asphalt and concrete roads is astronomical. A single pothole in concrete is a very invasive fix with significant amount of debris, but asphalt can be almost infinitely recycled. Replacing asphalt means eating up the debris and putting it right back in the ground. Replacing concrete means toting truck loads of the stuff _somewhere else_ to sit
  - SkyPuncher 2y ago
    Road concrete gets crushed and used as road base. Not the exact, perfect reuse of Asphalt but it does end up used as fill.
kolinko 2y ago
Or narrow them down and plant trees?
carabiner 2y ago
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/los-angeles-is-painting-some-of-its-streets-white-and-the-reasons-why-are-pretty-cool/ https://www.cbsnews.com/news/los-angeles-is-painting-some-of... It's being tested but is very expensive.
- 8xeh 2y ago
  Phoenix does this: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/to-beat-the-heat-phoenix-paints-its-streets-gray/ https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/to-beat-the-heat-... > Experts say road temperatures in the Phoenix area can rise to 180 degrees on a hot day I guess being only 160°F means the gray is working. I wonder how well it would do if it were painted white.

mikestew 2y ago

but all of the existing solutions seem to be really expensive or change the grip of the pavement, or else just don’t last very long. …or make you go snowblind while you’re trying to drive down the street. Just the thought of Phoenix in July while walking on a completely white surface makes my eyes hurt.

jandrese 2y ago

Would it be so bad to use concrete instead? Sure the up front cost is higher, but it has a higher albedo and lasts longer, especially since Phoenix doesn't have snowplows tearing up the streets.

andrewxdiamond 2y ago
The total cost of ownership differences between asphalt and concrete roads is astronomical. A single pothole in concrete is a very invasive fix with significant amount of debris, but asphalt can be almost infinitely recycled. Replacing asphalt means eating up the debris and putting it right back in the ground. Replacing concrete means toting truck loads of the stuff _somewhere else_ to sit
- SkyPuncher 2y ago
  Road concrete gets crushed and used as road base. Not the exact, perfect reuse of Asphalt but it does end up used as fill.

kolinko 2y ago

Or narrow them down and plant trees?

carabiner 2y ago

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/los-angeles-is-painting-some-of-its-streets-white-and-the-reasons-why-are-pretty-cool/ https://www.cbsnews.com/news/los-angeles-is-painting-some-of... It's being tested but is very expensive.

8xeh 2y ago
Phoenix does this: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/to-beat-the-heat-phoenix-paints-its-streets-gray/ https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/to-beat-the-heat-... > Experts say road temperatures in the Phoenix area can rise to 180 degrees on a hot day I guess being only 160°F means the gray is working. I wonder how well it would do if it were painted white.