Road trip to Los Angeles and back observations

[Phase]

So I decided to drive to Los Angeles and back from Portland and I noticed some interesting things

1. Cops don’t seem to care about your side mirror removal. Drove on California highways and even around Venice beach and the la metro for days. No comments on BOTH side mirror removals

2. Wheel spats get a lot of attention. People make comments every time you stop. Passengers in other cars turn around and stare at your car. People make comments driving by them in parking lots

3. Warmer sunny days with dry roads really help with rolling resistance

4. The corridor effect is very real in Los Angeles when traffic is flowing.

5. The hard concrete “ ridges/grooves” highways are extremely low rolling resistance surfaces.


With my eco mods, driving on the smooth highways with warmer dry weather and the corridor affect, I was averaging 68 mpg at 75-80 miles per hour in the Los Angeles metro area when traffic was flowing fast ( LA drivers go fast when there’s no gridlock)

68 mpg at 75-80 mph is insane!!! Felt like I was just gliding the whole time and barely had to push on the throttle. Crazy gas prices offset the gains though.

I attached a pic of their smooth roads

[Phase]

I also saw countless Toyota hydrogen cars

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by Phase

The hard concrete “ ridges/grooves” highways are extremely low rolling resistance surfaces

Concrete highways seem to be better overall, even though the ones I drove near my hometown were not so seamless. And since maintenance may not be so half-assed for a concrete highway to last, asphalt remains more usual.

[Phase]

Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr

Concrete highways seem to be better overall, even though the ones I drove near my hometown were not so seamless. And since maintenance may not be so half-assed for a concrete highway to last, asphalt remains more usual.

Less road noise on concrete too! Def seems to be better rolling resistance. Would explain why when I drive thru the salt lake metro, I get really good mpg too. Corridor effect, concrete smooth roads, and high elevation

[freebeard]

In the 1950s, the stretch from McMinnville, OR, to Sheridan was known as The Slab. There was a small bump strip every hundred feet or so.

[Phase]

Originally Posted by freebeard

In the 1950s, the stretch from McMinnville, OR, to Sheridan was known as The Slab. There was a small bump strip every hundred feet or so.

how come? thats such a long open road

[redpoint5]

I wonder why concrete isn't used more frequently, because it lasts a lot longer, requiring less traffic disruption due to maintenance, is more efficient, and reflects more sunlight (for the global warming concerned).

That said, I do notice the concrete in CA is insanely bumpy. I once drove in an old Dodge Ram van, and the suspension was nearly maxing the bottom and top range as I hopped down the freeway. It's unclear if it was made that way, or developed due to age. Wonder if there's an engineering solution to prevent such massive bumps from developing?

[Phase]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

I wonder why concrete isn't used more frequently, because it lasts a lot longer, requiring less traffic disruption due to maintenance, is more efficient, and reflects more sunlight (for the global warming concerned).

That said, I do notice the concrete in CA is insanely bumpy. I once drove in an old Dodge Ram van, and the suspension was nearly maxing the bottom and top range as I hopped down the freeway. It's unclear if it was made that way, or developed due to age. Wonder if there's an engineering solution to prevent such massive bumps from developing?

most of cali had concrete. i was getting 62mpg at 70-80 mph the whole i5 drive from sacramento to bakersfield

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by Phase

most of cali had concrete. i was getting 62mpg at 70-80 mph the whole i5 drive from sacramento to bakersfield

How bumpy was the ride? I know cracks can develop and they fill those in with that black tar stuff, and those don't seem to be a problem.

Been nearly a decade since I drove much in CA, and I stuck mostly to the coast.

[freebeard]

how come? thats such a long open road

It was an affectionate nickname. The first concrete road the locals had ever seen.

That said, I do notice the concrete in CA is insanely bumpy

Consider the two-lane road out of South Commercial to Independence, OR. The freeways of LA are built on the same living planet. Maybe not as lively.