utrecht transforms over 300 bus stops into green-roofed bee stops

358 bee species live in the netherlands according to statistics, but more than half of them are part of the dutch red list — a catalog listing endangered species. to fight the bee population decline, utrecht has transformed over 300 bus stops into bee sanctuaries. these green hubs, or rather bee stops, are essentially bus stops with grass and wildflowers on the roof that aim to encourage pollination.

all images by clear channel

the project, created by the utrecht council together with clear channel, supports the city’s biodiversity by attracting the insects as well as capturing fine dust and storing rainwater. mainly composed of sedum plants, the green roofs require little water and maintenance to survive. as for the human-centered design, the bus stops feature energy-efficient LED lights powered by windmills and bamboo benches.

located in the center of the country, utrecht is the fourth-largest city in the netherlands. in the past years, the city has been committed to improve its urban biodiversity and sustainability with projects like stefano boeri’s vertical forest, an energy-neutral hockey clubhouse and a 110-meter-long bicycle bridge among other projects. 

project info:

bee stops

via: lonely planet