Skip to content

Streetfilms Shorties: Why Don’t We Plant Trees in the Road?

Clarence recently dug up a few unused nuggets from last year's junket to Melbourne, Australia. Watch and see how curbside space in residential neighborhoods has been repurposed for plantings that double as traffic calming treatments. Whatever red tape they had to hack through to plant trees in the roadbed, not just on the sidewalk, they've hacked through it in Melbourne. Have to say, though, the trees planted in the bike lane (or the bike lane painted around the trees) had me scratching my head.

Clarence recently dug up a few unused nuggets from last year’s junket to Melbourne, Australia. Watch and see how curbside space in residential neighborhoods has been repurposed for plantings that double as traffic calming treatments. Whatever red tape they had to hack through to plant trees in the roadbed, not just on the sidewalk, they’ve hacked through it in Melbourne. Have to say, though, the trees planted in the bike lane (or the bike lane painted around the trees) had me scratching my head.

Photo of Ben Fried
Ben Fried started as a Streetsblog reporter in 2008 and led the site as editor-in-chief from 2010 to 2018. He lives in Ditmas Park, Brooklyn, with his wife.

Comments Are Temporarily Disabled

Streetsblog is in the process of migrating our commenting system. During this transition, commenting is temporarily unavailable.

Once the migration is complete, you will be able to log back in and will have full access to your comment history. We appreciate your patience and look forward to having you back in the conversation soon.

More from Streetsblog New York City

State Bill Would Stop Highway Expansions Near Vulnerable New Yorkers

April 3, 2026

Study: How Capping Vehicle Sizes Could Help Save the World

April 3, 2026

Friday’s Headlines: Margin For Terror Edition

April 3, 2026

Talking Headways Podcast: Civil Rights, Civic Transport

April 3, 2026

UPDATE: Hit-And-Run Ambulance Driver Kills Woman on Deadly Ocean Avenue

April 2, 2026
See all posts