Safer, More Walkable Streets
Trees have been proven to make streets safer and more walkable for pedestrians.
The Challenge Increasingly, walkable communities have become a magnet for residents (both new and existing), and often equate to an area's success as a prospering community. Charlotte is bisected by numerous wide roads (four to six lane highways) which often have very few trees and are surrounded by low-density suburban strip malls and residential areas. This type of development, common between 1960 and 1990, fosters an unsafe environment for pedestrians. The Solution In an age where walkability and pedestrian-friendly areas tend to draw the most people, tree cover is a powerful tool in revitalizing districts and neighborhoods. Urban trees have been shown to slow traffic and help ensure safe, walkable streets in communities. Traffic speeds and driver stress levels have been reported to be lower on tree-lined streets, contributing to a reduction in road rage and aggressive driving (Wolf 1998a, Kuo and Sullivan 2001b). According to the Federal Highway Administration, tree canopy along a street provides a narrowing speed control measure by creating a “psycho-perceptive sense of enclosure” that discourages speeding (US Department of Transportation 2015). The buffers between walking areas and driving lanes created by trees also make pedestrians and cyclists feel safer. |
In a recent survey of Charlotte residents, many residents cited tree canopy as critical to urban areas promoting walking, biking, and transit. |
Charlotte WALKS Plan
Currently, the city of Charlotte's department of transportation (CDOT) is working on completing their first Pedestrian Plan, called Charlotte WALKS. The plan identifies key issues with walkability in Charlotte. It recognizes the importance of street trees as assets to the urban environment and pedestrian experience. In the section The Pedestrian Environment: Vertical, the plan asserts that street trees have the ability to "transform[ ] streets into outdoor living rooms where public life is shared and enjoyed by all." (Charlotte WALKS p.86). The plan highlights the importance of street trees for pedestrian safety. It adds that trees have been shown to "shorten perceived wait time at transit stops" (Charlotte WALKS, p. 87). The plan includes three specific action items related to street trees:
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- Refine urban street tree planting standards to promote the use of hardscape amenity zones and ensure the long term viability of street trees.
As part of the planning process 500 people participated in a visual preference survey. Trees appeared in the 'top three' for all categories (safe, useful, and inviting) either directly or indirectly. 13% of participants cited planting strips (buffer from cars) as a treatment that made them feel safer. When asked what places or activities would participants walk to, 15% selected parks/greenways. Lastly, street trees were selected as the number one feature that made a place inviting to walk, with 25% of participants choosing it. To see all results of the input summary click here. It can also be found on page 21 of the draft report.
What Charlotte Residents are Saying About Trees Throughout their Community:
"They provide a calming and relaxing feeling in our hurry up city."
"They calm our city streets. Trees in roadside planting strips slow traffic speeds"
"They provide wind-breaks to reduce storm damage and wind-blown dust."
"It's easier to be out in the elements if you have shade in summer and wind-breaks in winter.”
"They calm our city streets. Trees in roadside planting strips slow traffic speeds"
"They provide wind-breaks to reduce storm damage and wind-blown dust."
"It's easier to be out in the elements if you have shade in summer and wind-breaks in winter.”