Man, I wish they would do this in my city! The city of Washington, D.C. is currently testing a new tree and people friendly sidewalk technology–rubber! While this way of building sidewalks can be more expensive than concrete, it is much easier on the environment, trees, and people. This article from the Washington Post explains more.
Rubber sidewalks — good for the trees, easier on the knees, no cracks to break your mother’s back. In one of the biggest tests in the nation, the District recently installed several blocks’ worth of rubber sidewalks in Northeast. The cost was $60,000, roughly three times more than if it had been concrete.
Around tree roots, the walkways are said to last about 14 years — nearly three times longer than concrete ones — and are favored by city bureaucrats who last year took 2,600 complaints about broken concrete, got slapped with three lawsuits from people who fell on sidewalks and replaced hundreds of trees. Next year, if all weathers well, there may be a springy surprise in store for even more of Washington.
These innovative sidewalks are made from recycled tires, and can easily be molded to fit around trees and other landscaping features. Drawbacks? You can’t use chalk on rubber sidewalks, and the company that makes these sidewalks is located in California.
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It is definitely a drawback that the company is based in Cali, but the article mentions the possibility of them opening up a place in New York soon, too. That would pretty much get most of the big cities covered without too much cross-country shipping.
I do think before the idea takes off nationwide we should see what a New York winter does to the panels.
It’d be great to see how that works out. They look pretty good, and hopefully they’re good enough to withstand any changes in the weather.
Benefit: the company is in California. Great for our tax revenue! Buy ‘em up!