The main thing that makes it hard to have nature and green in cities isn’t density of buildings or density of people — it's density of cars. And the better you design your density of people and buildings, the fewer cars you need or want.

This is really important.

#streets #cars #BikeLanes #cities #urbanism

@BrentToderian
"Lanes for car movement" - i really like that.
@BrentToderian The low lifespan of trees in cities and costs to maintain them is critical and often forgotten.
@feinschmeckergarten

Indeed @morph
But why is this so?

Trees planted in compacted sharp sand and concrete, depleted of nutrition with their drip line completely sealed and damaged by parking cars can't be expected to do well.

My (architect) father got always frustrated by colleagues winning competitions with drawings of large trees - growing in 20cm topsoil on top of underground parking...

It takes competent planners and space to make trees work in cities. Space taken from cars.

@BrentToderian

@feinschmeckergarten High temperatures (makes them also grow too fast), low water supply, bad substrate. Also the poluted air - I know only the German word "Rauchhärte" which is a rather relevant factor for which varieties you want to plant in cities.
@BrentToderian
@BrentToderian Absolutely. More toxins from stoves, devices, car brakes and less chance for ventilation ...
All cities need more mature trees.
@BrentToderian Grateful for all your advice. As a mid-career planner, it's great to get this kind of validation on some of the things we try, and the overall thrust of our work, which takes space away from cars and provides it for something else... my only reservation is we aren't doing enough of that, and its not fast enough.
@BrentToderian what is the best of this type of city in the US?