Filed under: Charlotte, community services, science and technology | Tags: recycled rubber, sidewalks, station 8, trees
before/after photo via rubbersidewalks inc
When I called this blog “It Happens Here,” I didn’t realize that “here” would be quite so literal. But near my home on Commonwealth, in front of my innovative neighbors at Station 8, there were news cameras and reporters staring at the ground yesterday. They were covering at a test pilot installation of a recycled rubber sidewalk. Even to critics who might claim that it’s unappealing or too expensive for right now, it’s hard to argue that it solves a very basic need: its cracking concrete counterpart soon requires quick replacement thanks to the beautiful older trees on the block. However, the rubber version flexes as the trees grow, allowing the roots to share in the same space. Check back in 50 years and I’ll tell you if it’s still there!
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They are an absolute pleasure to walk upon, if nothing else. I enjoy the little “bounce” one gets, which is akin to a nice running track. Have you heard about the designer who is trying to implement conductor street panels in NYC? The idea is that with each step we take, energy is lost. Why not capture it and use it to power street lights? Unfortunately, I cannot recall the name of the designer who is experimenting with this concept.
Comment by Ryan Burkhart July 25, 2009 @ 11:51 am[...] not painted, but rather created from plastic tiles. I’ll have to see how it compares to the rubber sidewalk in Plaza Midwood! Leave a Comment No Comments Yet so far Leave a comment RSS feed for [...]
Pingback by Pedestrian delighter! « It happens here: Consumer-centric Innovation in Charlotte and beyond September 22, 2009 @ 12:38 am