vendredi 1 avril 2016

Useful Information About Concrete Sidewalks

By Donna Gibson


A sidewalk refers to that path that is often constructed along the sides of the road. In other countries such as Australia, South Africa, and Britain, it also goes by several other names including pavement, footway, and footpath. Curbs are used to separate concrete sidewalks from the vehicular section of the road. In some cases, a median strip or a road verge is used to separate the footpath from the roadway or to demarcate its boundary on the other side.

The use of the term sidewalk is more prevalent and preferred in the various states of the US including Washington. On the other hand, in the British counties, the term pavement is preferred while in Commonwealth nations, footpath wins. The civil engineering societies and legal systems of various countries have different definitions for sidewalks.

Sidewalks have a very long history, one that started in Ancient Greece and Roman Empire There is evidence that by the fourth century, footpaths in Corinth were already paved. Romans had specialists called semitas who were skilled in the art of building footways. Efforts to set aside footpaths for use by pedestrians began as early as 1623 with the Act for Colchester even though they were often ineffective.

The great fire of London prompted authorities to start making laws that brought order in the streets as the city was being rebuilt. It became a requirement within the law for all streets to be paved adequately. The most commonly used paving material at the time was Pubeck stone. Installation of bollards protected pedestrians from motorized traffic. Owners of adjoining properties in the US thus were under the obligation to fund the building of the sidewalk whether they approved of its existence or not.

The society benefits hugely from pavements. First, footways improve safely on the road because the separate motorized traffic from pedestrians. Most roads have sidewalks constructed on both sides. Thus, transportation is made easier and this is more evident in locations where there are more people on foot than those in vehicles. Examples of such areas are the various downtown regions in Washington.

Another benefit that accrues from footpaths is reduced carbon dioxide emission. Footpaths have a small effect on reducing the number of vehicle miles travelled as people opt to walk. Up to 8 percent reductions in the emission of carbon dioxide have been noted when people have access to safe pavements along which they can walk from one place to another.

Pavements have also been known to improve the general health of the populations that have access to them. People tend to prefer walking or jogging when their neighborhoods have pavements. This translates into reduced rates of obesity, cardiovascular disease, and other health issues that relate to sedentary lifestyles. Additionally, concentration levels among children who walk to school have been found to be higher.

Pathways in modern times are constructed using various materials. Concrete is the most preferred material in the whole of North America, while asphalt, stone, tarmac, rubber, and slab tend to be used on a large scale in Europe. Brick and wood were very popular a few years back.




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