Snow/ice clearance and winter tires

[RichA]

Gasoline taxes go to the province, and go to general revenue. If you take the total square feet of paved roads in the City of Toronto, you'll find that the vast majority is not maintained by the province.

I'm tired of driver's getting a free ride at the city's expense. $100 a month would seem reasonable to me!

I'd like Toronto and the surrounding areas to offer drivers the choice to replace road salt with a non-corrosive substitute. I figure for about $50.00 per year, per vehicle we could get rid of salt completely and that would save billions of $'s in damage to vehicles. Of course, new car sellers might not like it...

 

[doug]

I'd like Toronto and the surrounding areas to offer drivers the choice to replace road salt with a non-corrosive substitute.

What non-corrosive substitute do you have in mind?

 

[RichA]

Something that will drastically cut the cost of the effects of road salt

What non-corrosive substitute do you have in mind?

Here's one reference:

http://www.nytimes.com/1988/11/27/n...rst-test-in-county.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm

 

[doug]

While road salt costs between $25 and $25 a ton, the new substance, a mixture of limestone and acidic acid, sells for $650 a ton.

Who's going to pay for this?

Calcium magnesium acetate can help raise the alkaline content of the soil, he explained.

Acid and alkali are opposites...if this stuff is acidic, it can't raise the alkaline content.

there were ''a couple of open questions'' about the mixture, including its potential to reduce the oxygen content of water.

seeking more information about a product that he said he believed has not been thoroughly tested.

''A number of our members were concerned about the kind of gases that might be emitted when a combination of calcium and magnesium hits metal. We are waiting for an answer from the Senator.''

Sounds like it's more caustic than sodium chloride.

 

[RichA]

But salt destroys everything from steel and aluminum in cars to steel and concrete

Who's going to pay for this?

Acid and alkali are opposites...if this stuff is acidic, it can't raise the alkaline content.

Sounds like it's more caustic than sodium chloride.

Interesting article from 2008;
http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/308533

 

[EMP1729]

Interesting article from 2008;
http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/308533

What is your point?

 

[doug]

But salt destroys everything from steel and aluminum in cars to steel and concrete

...and the stuff you want to use might be worse...what's your point?

 

[Tarantulal Downpours]

I'd like Toronto and the surrounding areas to offer drivers the choice to replace road salt with a non-corrosive substitute. I figure for about $50.00 per year, per vehicle we could get rid of salt completely and that would save billions of $'s in damage to vehicles. Of course, new car sellers might not like it...

How about this?

[video=youtube;RoOFMGb0I7Q]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RoOFMGb0I7Q[/video]

 

[RichA]

That we are behind the times and should try something new?

...and the stuff you want to use might be worse...what's your point?

Why are we always 10 years behind modern American cities and 20 years behind modern European cities whenever it comes to...anything?

 

[RichA]

Might work

How about this?

Seems like a good product, though they'd have to determine whether it would end up creating dust clouds or would need clean-up on highways like sand does.

 

[Admiral Beez]

What non-corrosive substitute do you have in mind?

When I lived in Fredericton they used sand on much of the roads. This was necessary as salt doesn't work well below -7'C. Of course nearly everyone had snow tires too.

 

[EMP1729]

^^^
Gritters use a mixture of salt and sand over here too.

You do have a point about the winter tires. The city should have a by-law that all vehicle owners in Toronto must purchase and use winter tires. If not there will be a $60 penalty.

 

[spider]

You do have a point about the winter tires. The city should have a by-law that all vehicle owners in Toronto must purchase and use winter tires. If not there will be a $60 penalty.

I agree only if "vehicles" includes bicycles as we are so often prompted to believe they are vehicles too. Where are those cyclists these days anyways? Also, let's not forget the pedestrians, surely they must be compelled to wear skid proof footwear. I wouldn't want one losing control on a bit of ice and running into me.

 

[nfitz]

You do have a point about the winter tires. The city should have a by-law that all vehicle owners in Toronto must purchase and use winter tires. If not there will be a $60 penalty.

Why? Park the car and take transit on the rare occasion it snows.

 

[Juan_Lennon416]

Why? Park the car and take transit on the rare occasion it snows.

People aren't doing that right now