Comments on: Europe’s Grass-Lined Green Railways = Good Urban Design http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/01/27/europes-grass-lined-green-railways-good-urban-design/ Future-forward design for the world you inhabit Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:55:06 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: JKennethhttp://www.inhabitat.com/2009/01/27/europes-grass-lined-green-railways-good-urban-design/comment-page-1/#comment-172290 JKenneth Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:47:59 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/01/27/europes-grass-lined-green-railways-good-urban-design/#comment-172290 Perception is everything. Browning of the grass is a problem from the public perception side of things, as many folks seem to think that wehn the grass is brown it is dead. It is not, it is only going dormant. I'm all for a "green tracks" approach to rail design, but in areas where we have very hot and dry summers as here in Baltimore, MD, we need to educate the public on the reality of what it can/will look like, and the associated maintenance required to keep it looking "acceptable". Sedums may offer a similar aesthetic gain, and would still be a "green soulution". Irrigation is never an option, especially on public projects using State and Federal funding, but "green tracks" can help with a reduction of impervious surface and urban heat island. Perception is everything. Browning of the grass is a problem from the public perception side of things, as many folks seem to think that wehn the grass is brown it is dead. It is not, it is only going dormant. I’m all for a “green tracks” approach to rail design, but in areas where we have very hot and dry summers as here in Baltimore, MD, we need to educate the public on the reality of what it can/will look like, and the associated maintenance required to keep it looking “acceptable”. Sedums may offer a similar aesthetic gain, and would still be a “green soulution”. Irrigation is never an option, especially on public projects using State and Federal funding, but “green tracks” can help with a reduction of impervious surface and urban heat island.

]]> By: elis walbenyahttp://www.inhabitat.com/2009/01/27/europes-grass-lined-green-railways-good-urban-design/comment-page-1/#comment-120340 elis walbenya Sat, 14 Mar 2009 08:02:59 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/01/27/europes-grass-lined-green-railways-good-urban-design/#comment-120340 Muito bonito... realmente diferente! deveria ser copiado por outros países. Muito bonito… realmente diferente! deveria ser copiado por outros países.

]]> By: Ratzhttp://www.inhabitat.com/2009/01/27/europes-grass-lined-green-railways-good-urban-design/comment-page-1/#comment-119511 Ratz Mon, 09 Mar 2009 17:01:22 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/01/27/europes-grass-lined-green-railways-good-urban-design/#comment-119511 This is very nice! However I do wonder how they avoid the soil getting onto the rails and making the trams lose traction. Certainly in the UK the entire rail network seems to grind to a halt every time there is a leaf or a snowflake somewhere between London and Dundee. This is very nice! However I do wonder how they avoid the soil getting onto the rails and making the trams lose traction. Certainly in the UK the entire rail network seems to grind to a halt every time there is a leaf or a snowflake somewhere between London and Dundee.

]]> By: Asgeirhttp://www.inhabitat.com/2009/01/27/europes-grass-lined-green-railways-good-urban-design/comment-page-1/#comment-116957 Asgeir Sat, 07 Feb 2009 19:31:07 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/01/27/europes-grass-lined-green-railways-good-urban-design/#comment-116957 Abo Says: so what?… we have had (in Ukraine) the stuff like this since USSR was… this is not a new ideaYes, the idea is new. The fact that you had green tram lanes in the Ukraine was probably due to the fact that the USSR, in those days, was seriously lacking maintenance. Abo Says:
so what?… we have had (in Ukraine) the stuff like this since USSR was… this is not a new idea

Yes, the idea is new. The fact that you had green tram lanes in the Ukraine was probably due to the fact that the USSR, in those days, was seriously lacking maintenance.

]]> By: thehecklehttp://www.inhabitat.com/2009/01/27/europes-grass-lined-green-railways-good-urban-design/comment-page-1/#comment-116364 theheckle Fri, 30 Jan 2009 14:55:25 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/01/27/europes-grass-lined-green-railways-good-urban-design/#comment-116364 Since many of these are located in climes that get snow, I assume they've figured out how to remove snow. That on top of the mowing and care issue may balance the urban heat island dissipation and permeability. I think the US could go a long way towards meeting the grade by having stormwater management integrated into whatever new light rail/trams that are built. That way maintenance costs are lower and the benefits are greater. Since many of these are located in climes that get snow, I assume they’ve figured out how to remove snow. That on top of the mowing and care issue may balance the urban heat island dissipation and permeability. I think the US could go a long way towards meeting the grade by having stormwater management integrated into whatever new light rail/trams that are built. That way maintenance costs are lower and the benefits are greater.

]]> By: Patrick33http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/01/27/europes-grass-lined-green-railways-good-urban-design/comment-page-1/#comment-116337 Patrick33 Fri, 30 Jan 2009 06:22:05 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/01/27/europes-grass-lined-green-railways-good-urban-design/#comment-116337 I live in Bordeaux , France and we have some parts of the tramway on grass. And there is a problem : water. Bordeaux has considerably decreased its quantity of water used for urban gardens so, during summer, the grass is completely dry and yellow. It's not always as lovely than on these pictures. But i prefer that, so we use recycled water or no water but today we also have to think about it. Sorry for my "frenched" english. I live in Bordeaux , France and we have some parts of the tramway on grass. And there is a problem : water. Bordeaux has considerably decreased its quantity of water used for urban gardens so, during summer, the grass is completely dry and yellow. It’s not always as lovely than on these pictures. But i prefer that, so we use recycled water or no water but today we also have to think about it. Sorry for my “frenched” english.

]]> By: melhuethttp://www.inhabitat.com/2009/01/27/europes-grass-lined-green-railways-good-urban-design/comment-page-1/#comment-116280 melhuet Thu, 29 Jan 2009 02:07:41 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/01/27/europes-grass-lined-green-railways-good-urban-design/#comment-116280 The US really needs to invest in public transportation. Not only is adding grass a beautiful thing to do, I love reading about the benefits it provides beyond its surface beauty. The US really needs to invest in public transportation. Not only is adding grass a beautiful thing to do, I love reading about the benefits it provides beyond its surface beauty.

]]> By: LIFE & URBANISM » Blog Archive » Design Tip: Rail Transportation as Green Landscapinghttp://www.inhabitat.com/2009/01/27/europes-grass-lined-green-railways-good-urban-design/comment-page-1/#comment-116278 LIFE & URBANISM » Blog Archive » Design Tip: Rail Transportation as Green Landscaping Thu, 29 Jan 2009 01:23:15 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/01/27/europes-grass-lined-green-railways-good-urban-design/#comment-116278 [...] covers. Rain gardens could be added to catch storm water run off as well. You can see more photos here and there is some other interesting urban design ideas here from Monocle [...] [...] covers. Rain gardens could be added to catch storm water run off as well. You can see more photos here and there is some other interesting urban design ideas here from Monocle [...]

]]> By: Abohttp://www.inhabitat.com/2009/01/27/europes-grass-lined-green-railways-good-urban-design/comment-page-1/#comment-116269 Abo Wed, 28 Jan 2009 23:06:34 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/01/27/europes-grass-lined-green-railways-good-urban-design/#comment-116269 so what?... we have had (in Ukraine) the stuff like this since USSR was... this is not a new idea so what?… we have had (in Ukraine) the stuff like this since USSR was… this is not a new idea

]]> By: Abohttp://www.inhabitat.com/2009/01/27/europes-grass-lined-green-railways-good-urban-design/comment-page-1/#comment-116266 Abo Wed, 28 Jan 2009 22:53:05 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/01/27/europes-grass-lined-green-railways-good-urban-design/#comment-116266 so what?... we have had (in Ukraine) the stuff like this since USSR was... this is not a new method so what?… we have had (in Ukraine) the stuff like this since USSR was… this is not a new method

]]> By: elepskihttp://www.inhabitat.com/2009/01/27/europes-grass-lined-green-railways-good-urban-design/comment-page-1/#comment-116242 elepski Wed, 28 Jan 2009 15:47:08 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/01/27/europes-grass-lined-green-railways-good-urban-design/#comment-116242 There are varieties of grass that are very hearty and do not require much mowing. As far as when it dose... you could have a cutter that is part of the tram... as for the other areas.. electric mowers do just fine on maintained lawns. There are varieties of grass that are very hearty and do not require much mowing. As far as when it dose… you could have a cutter that is part of the tram… as for the other areas.. electric mowers do just fine on maintained lawns.

]]> By: miltownyhttp://www.inhabitat.com/2009/01/27/europes-grass-lined-green-railways-good-urban-design/comment-page-1/#comment-116241 miltowny Wed, 28 Jan 2009 15:46:07 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/01/27/europes-grass-lined-green-railways-good-urban-design/#comment-116241 such a classic approach. I would imagine this is also more quite than cement. such a classic approach. I would imagine this is also more quite than cement.

]]> By: elinehanhttp://www.inhabitat.com/2009/01/27/europes-grass-lined-green-railways-good-urban-design/comment-page-1/#comment-116240 elinehan Wed, 28 Jan 2009 15:45:04 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/01/27/europes-grass-lined-green-railways-good-urban-design/#comment-116240 And Dublin Ireland too http://www.flickr.com/photos/isadub/141926590/ And Dublin Ireland too http://www.flickr.com/photos/isadub/141926590/

]]> By: vadjutkahttp://www.inhabitat.com/2009/01/27/europes-grass-lined-green-railways-good-urban-design/comment-page-1/#comment-116229 vadjutka Wed, 28 Jan 2009 11:40:53 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/01/27/europes-grass-lined-green-railways-good-urban-design/#comment-116229 Great post, I wish we had tramways like these in Hungary as well! Great post, I wish we had tramways like these in Hungary as well!

]]> By: GRhttp://www.inhabitat.com/2009/01/27/europes-grass-lined-green-railways-good-urban-design/comment-page-1/#comment-116226 GR Wed, 28 Jan 2009 10:59:40 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/01/27/europes-grass-lined-green-railways-good-urban-design/#comment-116226 Paris too has a green Tramway line http://www.flickr.com/photos/tofz4u/307000226/ Paris too has a green Tramway line
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tofz4u/307000226/

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