Street Trees for Bicyclists, Pedestrians, and Vehicle Drivers: A Systematic Multimodal Review

Abstract

Multimodal Complete Streets have emerged as a prominent aspiration of urban planning to ensure safe access for all users of streets including pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and transit users. Concurrently, municipal leaders are pursuing ambitious tree planting initiatives. These co-arising trends are potentially good news, as trees are important elements of livable cities and Complete Streets. Yet, street trees may have different health and safety benefits and disbenefits for various circulation modes. To advance a multimodal approach to research and practice, we undertook a systematic literature review with goals to (1) identify the scholarly literature addressing links between street trees, human health, and safety for pedestrians, bicyclists, and vehicle drivers; (2) depict the principal disciplines, themes, and conceptual scope of this research; and (3) discuss the implications for urban planning and design practice and research. This review drew upon 13 scholarly databases and yielded 63 relevant articles spanning 15 countries, of which 49 constituted original research. The systematic analysis covers eight research categories. Findings show exponential growth in related scholarship over the past two decades, especially for pedestrians. Journals oriented toward interdisciplinary planning and public health and safety are leading this rise, and benefits far outweigh disbenefits. Yet, there are multimodal tensions especially as it relates to the role of street trees in relationship to drivers and pedestrians. Implications for research and practice are discussed, with an eye towards governance, design, and equity.

Evaluation of Urban Sustainability Based on Transportation and Green Spaces: The Case of Limassol, Cyprus

“…Another measure is the provision of street trees, which was identified by 15% of the participants in this study for their potential to replace car trips with active modes. Previous studies have shown that street trees encourage walking and cycling as a comfortable and attractive mode of transportation [83]. Limassol has a Mediterranean climate (Csa type according to Köppen classification) with summertime average temperatures over 26 • C, so street tree shade is an important amenity for walking and cycling comfortably.…”

The Value and Urgency of Transportation Forestry

“…Beyond the potential safety benefits of Transportation Forestry, urban and community forests benefit residents and ecosystems in other ways [43][44][45] . Appropriately selected, designed and maintained trees and supporting green infrastructure can represent a viable and cost-effective strategy to reduce ambient air pollution from traffic emissions 13 .…”

Determination Factors of Roadside Tree Species Selection Model for Sustainable Smart City

“…Roadside trees play a crucial role in urban environments, providing numerous benefits such as shade, aesthetic appeal, air purification, noise reduction, and erosion control. Roadside trees are typically planted along streets, highways, and rural roads to enhance the visual appeal, provide shade to pedestrians and motorists, and contribute to the overall liveability of the area [4]. The selection of appropriate roadside tree species is important to ensure their adaptability to the local conditions, minimize maintenance requirements, and enhance their overall effectiveness.…”