What is the history of roads specifically designed for motor vehicles?

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wolram
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I have tried to find out when the first road surfaced specifically for motor vehicles was, and where, obviously motor traffic used existing surfaced roads with horse drawn traffic in mind up to some time, so when did consideration for motor vehicles start?
 
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Don't forget bicycles - the Cyclists' Touring Club was founded in 1878 and part of it's campaigning at the start was for the improvement road surfaces.
 
chronon said:
Don't forget bicycles - the Cyclists' Touring Club was founded in 1878 and part of it's campaigning at the start was for the improvement road surfaces.


I never gave it a thought :smile: could that have been the start?
 
wolram said:
I have tried to find out when the first road surfaced specifically for motor vehicles was, and where, obviously motor traffic used existing surfaced roads with horse drawn traffic in mind up to some time, so when did consideration for motor vehicles start?
And more to the point, when are they going to pave the street to my house?
 
jimmysnyder said:
And more to the point, when are they going to pave the street to my house?

May be when you have sufficient clout, like some one says by heck jimmy must have a smooth drive to work :smile:
 
NYT said:
A 100-Year-Old Dream: A Road Just for Cars
IT survives only as segments of other highways, as a right of way for power lines and as a bike trail, but the Long Island Motor Parkway still holds a sense of magic as what some historians say is the country’s first road built specifically for the automobile. It opened 100 years ago last Friday as a rich man’s dream.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/12/automobiles/12LIMP.html?partner=rssnyt
 
Sealed roads are about 200years old in the UK with macadam'ed surfaces.
Tar was added from about 1900 to stop motor vehicles disturbing the surface - hence tarmac.

The first proper road in the US is probably 'Historic National Road' in Cumberland Maryland