I’d like to strap the guy down who convinced our state’s D.O.T. to use Tar and Chip, open his mouth wide, pour hot tar down it, then pour the rest over his entire naked body, and roll him in a dump truck of hot sharp gravel. Then, after throwing him to the ground, I’d borrow the nearest SUV and run over him, backing up several times to make sure I’ve got all the chips well sealed in his mangled flesh.

Whew… (pant, pant, pant), that felt good, I’m glad I’m wearing my heart monitor. No really, I am steaming mad. I’ve seen our roads steadily decline in quality and appearance over the last several years, all in the name of cost savings, with this idiotic, and completely deceitful program of tarring and chipping. I’m not alone in my disgust and outrage either. Jon Schmitz of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette wrote on this very subject just 2 months ago.

It’s not really cost savings, it’s COST SHIFTING, and the tax payers are getting double dipped. No one has lowered our taxes since they started this program, so from where I sit it hasn’t saved me ditly squat. We certainly don’t have a higher percentage of good roads to drive on – they are in worse shape than ever, with many of them “first generation” tar and chip roads that didn’t last a season. But the real reason every driver in PA should be up in arms is the additional cost this has added to every driver who has to endure these conditions every day. Here is how they have added to what we Pennsylvanians pay:

1. No reduction in taxes, despite claims of astronomical savings
2. Greater wear and tear on our tires (already subject to normal PA potholes), now the rough surface is wearing out our tires about 20% faster than in previous years
3. Worse gas mileage when the price of gas continues to fluctuate into the stratosphere. This is something we suffer on a day to day, week to week basis.
4. More body repairs from chipped paint that results from flying stones kicked up from recently chipped roads
5. More frequent under carriage treatments because of the constant beating the underbellies of our cars take
6. Greater health care costs for the accidents caused by these loose gravel conditions (especially with motorcycles).

You think I’m “reaching” with my ranting here – I am not. The International Research and Technologies published a book called “Surface Characteristics of Roadways”, where it is stated “Rational pavement management requires that any decisions regarding construction and maintenance policies to take due account of their consequences on the national economy, thus including consideration of vehicle operating costs.” You can read the exerpts from the book yourself by clicking on the link.

These just represent the cost shift to us. It doesn’t even touch the inconvenience, and unpleasantness of driving on the stupid things. I don’t care what car you drive, these roads will NEVER give you a “quiet ride”. It’s like riding your MTB on the road or on your trainer at home – deafening at times. And forget about that SMOOOOOOTH ride you used to like on _____________ (fill in the blank) road. Whatever road it was, wherever it was, your smooth ride is no more.

But wait, it’s not just a cost or convenience issue either, it’s also an Environment issue. We are being bad stewards of our environment if we allow the state to keep up with this destructive practice. In the same book as referenced above (and there are other references one can find throughout the internet), the rolling resistance can be higher by a factor of 2X, thereby requiring more energy to overcome it, thereby requiring more FUEL to generate that power. The result is an average additional 9% in fuel consumption!! Is that what we are supposed to be doing to limit our dependence on foreign oil?!?!

If these weren’t enough reasons to make you HATE this practice, we haven’t even spoken about the hopeless souls on two wheels. I’m talking about motor cycles here. The danger factor just increased by about 25% with all this loose gravel on the road. Add the fact that PA in its infinite wisdom, repealed the helmet law a few years back, and you have the good makings for a head trauma unit needed now in every local hospital. I suspect even cars have had more than one incident due to the loose surface of these roads, but on two wheels, it’s not a matter of IF there has been a Tar and Chip caused accident, it’s only a matter of HOW MANY.

Of course, the group really taking it… uh… on the chin… is cyclists, bike riders. We may not be motorized, but we still pay our taxes, and according to law, we are legitimate users of the infrastructure. Now, even if we wanted to ride on the birm if it is wide enough, we can’t – there is so much loose CRAP there (95% from tar and chip), that it’s simply not safe enough. We are hence, forced to keep it well into the road, and still keep a watchful eye. This doesn’t even begin to touch the uncomfortable aspects of riding your bike on tar and chip. Try to imagine 120 lbs of tire pressure on a surface like the moon; only this moon surface is just miniature enough that you feel every single bump on every single inch you travel.

Whatever road rage you’ve seen from impatient drivers, it can’t equal the road rage felt by cyclists who not only have to ride on these roads every time they want to recreate, but who keep seeing more and more of their “smooth” routes destroyed. For me, if they don’t stop this in PA, I’ll be moving my tax money to a different state as soon as I possibly can!

There… I feel better now.