PLASTIC FANTASTIC
Plastic footwear – on a horse, of course
The very oldest among us may still remember the ubiquitous, rhythmic clattering of horse hooves of days past. The soundscape of yesteryear’s metropolis was abuzz with the clamour of carriages. At night, the careful eye could even see sparks when horseshoes struck against the cobblestones as the coachman drove his animals to the crack of his whip. These days, such imagery is usually reserved for tourist strongholds. This is also the case for Vienna, where horse-drawn carriages remain a common feature of the cityscape.
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But every joyride comes with a downside. The repeated impacts of the horseshoes are wearing down the paving of the historic city centre, provoking costly road renovations. In response, the city council is now providing EUR 1.9 mn in promotion of an alternative: plastic horseshoes.
Are they as much of a lucky charm as the real thing? The plastic shoes cost twice as much as their metal counterparts and also wear out more quickly. The horses, however, supposedly love the gentle shock absorption – and the pavement does stay intact for longer...
15.03.2024 Plasteurope.com [254467-0]
Published on 15.03.2024