By Elias Marat | The Mind Unleashed
The Dutch city of Utrecht has taken a unique approach to managing its air quality by installing green roofs filled with flowers and plants on top of its bus stops.
The move will not only help Utrecht achieve its ambition of becoming a truly sustainable green city prepared for the challenges of climate change, but it will also provide small sanctuaries for bees across roadways in the bustling urban space.
According to EcoWatch, bees have already found their home atop the municipal city bus shelters and are attracted more to the flora than to commuters. While some residents mistake the pollinators for the far more aggressive yellow-jackets or wasps, the bees have posed no danger to bus riders.
The “bee stop” concept is a novel approach to the ecological challenges faced by city planners who have found an effective tool in helping to capture the fine dust and particulate matter that plagues city streets where dirt, soot, and smoke accompany traffic.
The bee stops will also help to store rainwater and cool city blocks during the hotter summer months.
Dutch City turns bus stops into bee stops
This Dutch city has transformed its bus 🚌 stops into bee 🐝 stops 🌼👉🏽ecowatch.com/dutch-city-bus-stops-into-bee-stopsBrightVibes
Posted by EcoWatch on Monday, July 8, 2019
The municipality of Utrecht is offering subsidies to those who are able to turn their old roofs, including those filled with asbestos, into environmentally-friendly green roofs and ones combining greenery with solar panels. The campaign is one of many meant to ensure “a healthy and livable city,” according to the Utrecht city website.
