Comments on: Regenerative Suburban Median http://www.re-burbia.com/2009/08/07/regenerative-suburban-median/ A Suburban Design Competition Fri, 16 Jul 2010 04:02:26 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Nan http://www.re-burbia.com/2009/08/07/regenerative-suburban-median/#comment-1260 Nan Sun, 23 Aug 2009 10:50:33 +0000 http://www.re-burbia.com/?p=1399#comment-1260 Interesting idea. A similar idea already exists in a border town in Vietnam, Lao Cai, where vegetables are grown in the middle of the road. But they don't channel the stormwater from the road for irrigation. Interesting idea. A similar idea already exists in a border town in Vietnam, Lao Cai, where vegetables are grown in the middle of the road. But they don’t channel the stormwater from the road for irrigation.

]]> By: Brian Zulaikha http://www.re-burbia.com/2009/08/07/regenerative-suburban-median/#comment-1182 Brian Zulaikha Wed, 19 Aug 2009 03:06:53 +0000 http://www.re-burbia.com/?p=1399#comment-1182 This is a great idea - and perhaps in the not too distant future? The car's time is over and the space taken should be handed over to community use. This is a great idea – and perhaps in the not too distant future? The car’s time is over and the space taken should be handed over to community use.

]]> By: Sarah http://www.re-burbia.com/2009/08/07/regenerative-suburban-median/#comment-1171 Sarah Tue, 18 Aug 2009 18:51:00 +0000 http://www.re-burbia.com/?p=1399#comment-1171 Interesting idea, and well presented, in my opinion. (I tend to agree with comments in #52.) Interesting idea, and well presented, in my opinion. (I tend to agree with comments in #52.)

]]> By: Nathan Lawrence http://www.re-burbia.com/2009/08/07/regenerative-suburban-median/#comment-1165 Nathan Lawrence Tue, 18 Aug 2009 18:13:35 +0000 http://www.re-burbia.com/?p=1399#comment-1165 Medians are utilized by traffic engineers for vehicular safety and flow. I am all about urban farming, but this idea has some serious legal hurdles to overcome. It seems like a median on a high speed road is the last place one should look at for urban farming/farmers markets. Medians are utilized by traffic engineers for vehicular safety and flow. I am all about urban farming, but this idea has some serious legal hurdles to overcome. It seems like a median on a high speed road is the last place one should look at for urban farming/farmers markets.

]]> By: Kris http://www.re-burbia.com/2009/08/07/regenerative-suburban-median/#comment-1149 Kris Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:23:19 +0000 http://www.re-burbia.com/?p=1399#comment-1149 I work in transportation in New York State. Though I like this idea, from experience I know that in order to implement this one would need to deal with a number of pollutants and contaminants from the road, including road salt in many northern climates. It would be best implemented in slow residential areas. Because of the pollution concerns, I think it would be helpful to condense the travel lanes instead of separating them, and to provide a vegetated filtration buffer between the road and the food. I work in transportation in New York State. Though I like this idea, from experience I know that in order to implement this one would need to deal with a number of pollutants and contaminants from the road, including road salt in many northern climates. It would be best implemented in slow residential areas. Because of the pollution concerns, I think it would be helpful to condense the travel lanes instead of separating them, and to provide a vegetated filtration buffer between the road and the food.

]]> By: ola kopka http://www.re-burbia.com/2009/08/07/regenerative-suburban-median/#comment-1145 ola kopka Tue, 18 Aug 2009 08:01:36 +0000 http://www.re-burbia.com/?p=1399#comment-1145 works in reality quite well, see all those temporary garden installations. but a steady usage and more effective one would be even better. works in reality quite well, see all those temporary garden installations.
but a steady usage and more effective one would be even better.

]]> By: Joe http://www.re-burbia.com/2009/08/07/regenerative-suburban-median/#comment-1138 Joe Tue, 18 Aug 2009 04:42:43 +0000 http://www.re-burbia.com/?p=1399#comment-1138 It looks great on paper. However, I'd be very hesitant to actually eat any produce that's been in the middle of the road though! In the middle of the road! I would have to trust the gardeners who have posted comments here about never planting edibles in their front gardens because of car and road pollutants. However, if this particular problem can be solved, along with the myriad of road crossings and people wandering between the path and the center willy nilly then I'm for it! Why not put thin strips of commerce on each side of these wide roads... similar to the stands on the side of the river Saine in Paris... but not food at tire or any level. I guess that would be too close to residents though. Maybe there's something here but I'm not seeing a widespread solution. I would travel from one place to a suburb to visit a restaurant or other business though, like Entreprenurbia. That one has communal gardens too doesn't it, replacing corner tot-lots? And those veggies aren't within 5 feet of oily cars. It looks great on paper. However, I’d be very hesitant to actually eat any produce that’s been in the middle of the road though! In the middle of the road!

I would have to trust the gardeners who have posted comments here about never planting edibles in their front gardens because of car and road pollutants.

However, if this particular problem can be solved, along with the myriad of road crossings and people wandering between the path and the center willy nilly then I’m for it!

Why not put thin strips of commerce on each side of these wide roads… similar to the stands on the side of the river Saine in Paris… but not food at tire or any level. I guess that would be too close to residents though.

Maybe there’s something here but I’m not seeing a widespread solution. I would travel from one place to a suburb to visit a restaurant or other business though, like Entreprenurbia. That one has communal gardens too doesn’t it, replacing corner tot-lots? And those veggies aren’t within 5 feet of oily cars.

]]> By: narol http://www.re-burbia.com/2009/08/07/regenerative-suburban-median/#comment-1135 narol Tue, 18 Aug 2009 04:11:11 +0000 http://www.re-burbia.com/?p=1399#comment-1135 I made the mistake of voting for this one and I can't seem to undo it. It's too dangerous to have people in the middle of the road, but just in case reduced speeds were mentioned(I didn't read the whole thing) It's important to have some lee way- think of driving sexting teens! booo on no vote retractions. I made the mistake of voting for this one and I can’t seem to undo it. It’s too dangerous to have people in the middle of the road, but just in case reduced speeds were mentioned(I didn’t read the whole thing) It’s important to have some lee way- think of driving sexting teens! booo on no vote retractions.

]]> By: Maia Holliday http://www.re-burbia.com/2009/08/07/regenerative-suburban-median/#comment-1086 Maia Holliday Mon, 17 Aug 2009 19:13:59 +0000 http://www.re-burbia.com/?p=1399#comment-1086 Love the ideas but question the health considerations of growing food in narrow spaces with car exhaust on both side of the strip. Chemicals end up on the food and inhaled by working gardeners. I'm chemically sensitive so these things are a constant consideration for me. It's especially dangerous for infants and children with low body weights. Maia de Gaia Love the ideas but question the health considerations of growing food in narrow spaces with car exhaust on both side of the strip. Chemicals end up on the food and inhaled by working gardeners.
I’m chemically sensitive so these things are a constant consideration for me. It’s especially dangerous for infants and children with low body weights.
Maia de Gaia

]]> By: Loran http://www.re-burbia.com/2009/08/07/regenerative-suburban-median/#comment-1068 Loran Mon, 17 Aug 2009 14:47:31 +0000 http://www.re-burbia.com/?p=1399#comment-1068 I love a natural median between roads. It softens the road and provides a calming effect for drivers and open space for birds and small animals. If the road is wide enough, it could be utilized for agriculture and pedestrians. If the road is too busy or narrow, then just vegetation is fine. (I love tree-lined roads.) I also love when a town or neighborhood closes the street for 2-3 blocks and creates a communal area for neighbors to socialize and shop at the local stores (like the Pearl Street Mall in Boulder CO or the square in Mill Valley CA). I am all for bringing nature back into our daily lives wherever we can! And socializing with my neighbors is fun too! I love a natural median between roads. It softens the road and provides a calming effect for drivers and open space for birds and small animals. If the road is wide enough, it could be utilized for agriculture and pedestrians. If the road is too busy or narrow, then just vegetation is fine. (I love tree-lined roads.)

I also love when a town or neighborhood closes the street for 2-3 blocks and creates a communal area for neighbors to socialize and shop at the local stores (like the Pearl Street Mall in Boulder CO or the square in Mill Valley CA).

I am all for bringing nature back into our daily lives wherever we can! And socializing with my neighbors is fun too!

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