By continuing you agree to eChinacities's Privacy Policy .
Sign up with Google
Sign up with Facebook
Q: Are high curbs a sign of corruption?
Everywhere in northern Europe, curbs are low, if there at all, and the countries there are the least corrupt in the world. In the US, curb height vary from place to place, but e.g. in Puerto Rico they are generally kind of high, and the US isn't completely free of corruption. Turkey, highest curbs I've ever seen, at least until I came to China.
Interesting. Actually you're probably on to something. All materials for China's public infastructure, from railings to the paint used on roads, is obtained from a private company. Only those with connections to the officials get lucrative deals to use their products on China's roads. People make millions through their connections. A construction company without any connections would never even be considered. Also, the closer your connection, the more you convince them to buy more building materials than needed hence the higher curbs. Each brick costs money so somebody is making a nice little fortune.
Franck3:
Don't forget that high curbs also deface hubcaps and you know how the Chinese are about loosing face.
What a silly question! You mean the road side curbs? That was man made so I don't see how you can relate that to corruption...
That almost seems like a Sparkey question. High curbs keep rotten drivers some where on the road. With more corruption you can do what you want?
Or did you mean corrosion? I think low curbs would contribute to corrosion by letting more water flood.
Either way, there are no curbs on my street.
Scandinavian:
I know the difference between corruption and corrosion. Corrosion is what happens to a car when you mechanic is corrupt.
High corruption = Low respect for authority ?
Scandi, you remember my last photo documentation ? so here is other one. just 200 meter far away from the first photo. just beside the school, primary school, where also many kids are going to kindergarden. They have to jump into the road, to be smashed by cars. probably population control.
http://i41.tinypic.com/15n1z6e.jpg
Nessquick:
But please, tell me. WHY ???? Why the hell they do this ?
There might be a correlation, the explanation based on private contractor & gouv. networking is sound, but I can propose an other explanation. Using low curbs assumes people will generally don't take advantage of them, ie. park where they should not. High curbs prevent abusing the walkway as a parking. In countries with higher level of corruptions, people tends to not care so much about civil & lawful behavior, so higher curbs are needed.
it is a way that keeps drivers from driving on the sidewalks
Scandinavian:
yes, exactly, corrupt people don't give a darn about parking rules, thus the curbs needs to be higher
royceH:
Well it ain't freakin workin....
Tell me somewhere in China where you can take yourself and the kiddies for a walk along the footpath without having to forever be in fear of your life? Where?
they build new zebra front of primary school ....
of course, it is meant to be reworked in a future. this is the way to make sure your company will still have enough work to do and not for just 1 day 
http://i58.tinypic.com/w0lw9c.jpg
Scandinavian:
I like how they always manage to end one side in a bush or some kind of plants.
By the way. Recently I found a number of streets in a downtown hood that are all painted for two way traffic, but the streets are all one way. They maintain the road markings despite the streets having been one way for years. It is as far as I have counted, 4 parallel streets connecting two larger streets
Now I know what is meant by "attempts to curb corruption". 
