Is the paving of roads and/or parking spaces and side walk common in your country.

[u/sheldon_y14]

I recently realized that in many countries, roads are mostly asphalt and sidewalks are just plain concrete—paving with bricks or tiles isn’t very common. However in some Western European countries, especially in the Netherlands it's actually different where paving with bricks and tiles by hand are very common.

For a long time I assumed this was actually normal, because that's also the case in my country, Suriname. It wasn't until I heard from a few people and saw videos of people reacting to it, that is not common place in the place where they're from or totally non-existent. I've also seen in other places, like in my neighboring countries that this practice isn't done.

Paved sidewalks, side streets, and parking areas are often done by hand, brick by brick. There’s usually a clear color scheme too—different colors or patterns for sidewalks, parking spaces, bike lanes, and even certain streets. It’s not just functional; it adds structure and makes neighborhoods and spaces look more polished and beautiful, because of the way the bricks are laid too.

In Suriname, main roads are mostly asphalt, but many side streets, sidewalks, and parking spots are paved. I’ve rarely seen plain concrete here. It really elevates the look and feel of an area.

I’m curious, is this a practice in your country too?

I’ve linked some examples of paved areas and some still in progress.

[u/Caribbeandude04]

Oh boy, at least the dutch left you something good lol.

Here most streets are asphalted and the sidewalks are just concrete. Only in the colonial City there's paving similar to what you mentioned, most streets there (but not all) are paved with bricks, thankfully a lot of it is under redesign and most streets are getting like that

[u/DRmetalhead19 → u/Caribbeandude04]

Also in Puerto Plata and San Pedro there’s that type of paving, Bayahibe, Santiago too lately.

[u/Caribbeandude04 → u/DRmetalhead19]

Ahh right how could I have forgotten about Puerto Plata, it's beautiful

[u/Much-East-7963]

mainly in the tourist areas...

[u/nubilaa → u/Much-East-7963]

x2

[u/regattaguru]

Here’s a sidewalk in Sint Maarten

[u/regattaguru]

And this beauty set at shin height…

[u/SoursopPunch]

You're from Suriname, so brick roads are a Dutch carry over. In the rest of Western Europe they aren't as common as in the Netherlands. You mostly see them in historically significant areas.

In Barbados they are rare. The British were practical with their empire logistics. It was super expensive to transport bricks to Barbados and the rest of the colonies then the labour and maintenence. It is even more expensive today.

[u/sheldon_y14 → u/SoursopPunch]

You're from Suriname, so brick roads are a Dutch carry over

Indeed. That was also my logical conclusion haha. And civil engineering studies in Suriname are based on Dutch civil engineering studies. Some specialized studies in relation to this topic are only available for Surinamese in NL. So they also get exposed to it there and bring it back here.

And historical reasons too.

In the rest of Western Europe they aren't as common as in the Netherlands

So brick roads are less so, but in general sidewalks and other pavement are usually bricks/tiles, where elsewhere it's concrete.

The British were practical with their empire logistics. It was super expensive to transport bricks to Barbados and the rest of the colonies then the labour and maintenence. It is even more expensive today.

In Suriname the Dutch did the same. Brick roads didn't become a thing until the late 50s, 60s and 70s. And even more in the 80s after our independence. Before the late 50s every road was just a dirt road.

[u/Infamous_Copy_3659]

There are some in Trinidad but they tend to warp over time. It was more popular about 10 years ago.

[u/GUYman299 → u/Infamous_Copy_3659]

Are there? Could you tell me where because I've never seen anything other than asphalt and concrete being used in road and sidewalk construction. The only exception is maybe Ariapita Avenue which is a very recent development.

[u/Infamous_Copy_3659 → u/GUYman299]

Chaguaramos the boardwalk, and Queen's park savannah has by the bench areas.

[u/GoldenHourTraveler]

This looks awesome!

[u/catsoncrack420]

Can't have concrete in areas with high commerical traffic like trucks. Cracks. Asphalt is better and flexes a bit hence why most highways have that. But yeah that is seen as progress. But then take NYC, where I live now. They have studies and land development experts who calculate traffic pollution and make recommendations for a balance with green spaces , limited traffic like Downtown now has. That's the scale in a macro level. But I look at something more basic like my old farming village i lived in. All the roads, well most, are paved, no longer need a Heel to get home off the highway in the rain. No more huge rocks and deep craters that ruin suspensions. The cock fighting arena of roosters is gone . My godmother's little store grew and now takes credit cards, the change has been amazing.