Comments on: Greening Expressways http://www.urbanphoto.net/blog/2009/06/07/greening-expressways/ Exploring urban life through word and photography Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:47:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Christopher DeWolf http://www.urbanphoto.net/blog/2009/06/07/greening-expressways/comment-page-1/#comment-288823 Christopher DeWolf Tue, 09 Jun 2009 15:40:53 +0000 http://www.urbanphoto.net/blog/?p=4580#comment-288823 I noticed that in Shanghai --- many elevated expressways were lined with planters. But you're right that it's just window dressing. What's really interesting about this idea is that it would probably have a meaningful effect on the surrounding area, both by reducing noise and by reducing air pollution. Of course the ideal situation would be to scrap the flyover altogether. HK has a terrible habit of building these things and I don't think they have much of an impact on traffic. Better-designed surface roads and intersections would probably be more useful to motorists and pedestrians alike. There's one flyover near my place and I fantasize about what it would be like if it was demolished and replaced with a row of big trees. I noticed that in Shanghai — many elevated expressways were lined with planters. But you’re right that it’s just window dressing. What’s really interesting about this idea is that it would probably have a meaningful effect on the surrounding area, both by reducing noise and by reducing air pollution.

Of course the ideal situation would be to scrap the flyover altogether. HK has a terrible habit of building these things and I don’t think they have much of an impact on traffic. Better-designed surface roads and intersections would probably be more useful to motorists and pedestrians alike. There’s one flyover near my place and I fantasize about what it would be like if it was demolished and replaced with a row of big trees.

]]> By: Mary Soderstrom http://www.urbanphoto.net/blog/2009/06/07/greening-expressways/comment-page-1/#comment-288822 Mary Soderstrom Tue, 09 Jun 2009 15:25:00 +0000 http://www.urbanphoto.net/blog/?p=4580#comment-288822 The green expressway reminds me of what I saw in Shanghai a few years ago. Given the city's goal of making 35 per cent of its surface area "green," every bush and tree is counted in the green tally. This means that expressway landscaping gets a premium, and in some cases has become linear parks. But from what I saw, most was window dressing, not useful green space. Mary The green expressway reminds me of what I saw in Shanghai a few years ago. Given the city’s goal of making 35 per cent of its surface area “green,” every bush and tree is counted in the green tally. This means that expressway landscaping gets a premium, and in some cases has become linear parks. But from what I saw, most was window dressing, not useful green space.

Mary

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