STREET TREES & LANDSCAPING GOAL

The goal for adding street trees and other vegetation is to create a visually appealing edge condition and barrier for motorists to decrease driving speeds and protect pedestrians.

WHAT IS IT?

Landscaping, especially street trees, create a more enjoyable and safer walking environment for pedestrians. This helps to form visual walls and create a barrier which helps drivers distinguish their (driving) environment from the shared environment. This will potentially lower the crash rates in areas and encourage slower driving speeds as drivers will likely be more aware of their surroundings.

Aside from safety benefits, there are countless health benefits and it can help boost the local economy. Landscaping should be done in areas that are pedestrian friendly, which makes downtowns or corridors with shops and restaurants and ideal location. Not only will people feel safe walking down the sidewalk, but businesses might see an increase in visitors and an increase in their property value. This will trickle into neighboring properties as well. To read more about additional health and safety benefits, click here.

In a study conducted by Texas A&M and the Seoul Development Institute, found that “[T]here is a correlation between certain types of landscape treatments and reduction in crash rates” creating a safer environment when planted in appropriate locations which do not impede sight lines. 1 Some studies have indicated that the mere presence of vegetation can be a calming measure which can help alleviate stress of drivers which in turn improves driving quality of the driver.

Lowering vehicle speeds is a method to increase pedestrian and cyclist safety but does it work to protect them when vegetation and street trees are located within the right of way? Several studies have indicated that where pedestrian amenities and vegetation are present improve safety of drivers, pedestrian, and cyclists alike. One study conducted in Florida compared local crash rates between two identical roadways, one with streetscape improvements and one without. The results indicated “for midblock crashes (11% fewer), injuries (31% fewer), and fatalities (none versus 6). Pedestrian and bicyclist injuries were likewise fewer in the improved road sections.”

To read “Design of Safe Urban Roadsides: an Empirical Analysis” by Eric Dumbaugh, click here

To read “The Street Tree Effect and Driver Safety” By Jody Rosenblatt Naderi, Byoung Suk Kweon, Ph.D., and Praveen Maghelal, click here.