Bus stops around the world have time and again grabbed headlines – sometimes for their artistic appeal or sometimes for their sustainability quotient, being built out of recycled plastic. However, Dutch city Utrecht surely went a step ahead of all in terms of redefining their bus stops. The city achieved the unthinkable with all her bus stops now converted to picturesque bee-stops. 

Precisely, 316 bus stops in Utrecht now sport a rooftop garden vibrant with summer blooms, which invite honeybees and bumblebees – two endangered species in the country. The initiative by Utrecht municipality has received wide acclaim from around the world.

No one has ever become poor by giving
– Anne Frank

Bee Stops: Hotspots For Biodiversity

According to BrightVibes, the bus stop terraces have become mini biodiversity hotspots with sprightly coloured seasonal flowers interspersed with sedum plants. The bee-stop gardens have been created and are maintained by dedicated municipality workers.

The gardens not only provide an aesthetic respite from the concrete jungle all around but also help in keeping the bus stops cooler and cosier. They also capture dust, dirt and airborne germs as well as conserves rainwater.

Plans of installing solar panels atop these bee stops are in the pipeline for Utrecht municipality. “A green roof is good for a healthy and livable city … that can, therefore, cope better with climate problems,” states the official website of Utrecht.