According to statistics, 358 bee species live in the Netherlands. Unfortunately, more than half of them are already endangered and put on the Dutch Red List (RL). The Netherlands’ officials recognized the problem with declining bee population and found an ingenious solution – to transform the city of Utrecht’s bus stops into bee-friendly havens to support pollinating populations.
More info: Provincie Utrecht
The city of Utrecht now has 316 bus stops with rooftops covered in greenery
Image credits: uitdragerij
Recently, the Utrecht council saw an opportunity to expand the functions of a regular bus stop by giving them a new wholesome purpose: To tackle the growing endangerment of honey bees. Utrecht is the fourth-largest city in the Netherlands, located in the central part of the country.
The new lush rooftops will encourage pollination by honeybees and bumblebees
Image credits: evagladness
Not only do newly revamped bus stops look cozier, but the flowering plants also support the city’s dwindling ecosystems, such as honeybees and bumblebees. The green rooftops filled with flowers for bees also help to capture fine dust and store rainwater.
“A green roof is good for a healthy and livable city”
Image credits: Jolanda van Ginkel
“A green roof is good for a healthy and livable green city … that can, therefore, cope better with climate problems. It helps to prevent flooding and ensures that we suffer less from heat,” reads the official website of the city of Utrecht. The officials are planning to install solar panels atop the bus stops in the next few years as well.
However, it’s not the only environmentally-conscious initiative of the city of Utrecht
Image credits: uitdragerij
Back in February, Utrecht announced that they will be replacing their current buses with electric ones. The officials are hoping to employ an entirely carbon-neutral transit fleet before 2028.
Here’s what people online had to say
61Kviews
Share on FacebookAm I the only one thinking "Buzz Stops"? I can't see it anywhere, and the lack of this obviously lame pun is causing me physical pain.
If “Buzz Stops” isn’t the official name, it definitely should be!! Brilliant, Ryo Bakura!!
Load More Replies...One thing that people don't do but should is put out bird baths. They aren't just for the birds, people! I've seen everything from a raven (no idea where he came from) to butterflies in my bird bath, and it's common to see both bumble bees and honey bees sitting at the edge and drinking.
Great idea! I would only add that small critters like bees need a rock or other platform to stand on so they can drink safely if the edge of your water feature or bird bath isn't shaped to accommodate them.
Load More Replies...For people worried about the bees and for those who are allergic: Mostly the bees will only go where there are flowers for them to feed on. Since these flowers will be well above human heads that should take care of most of the problems. Secondly, if you're allergic, CARRY AN EPIPEN with you! I know they've gotten ridiculously expensive here in the States but surely in the Netherlands they're more affordable. I have at least three friends here in the US who are deathly allergic to bees, who have Epipens but DON'T CARRY THEM WITH THEM. When I ask them why they don't have a real answer but say things like, oh, my purse is already full, I don't have a pocket that's the right size, etc. CARRY THE DAMN THING. And if you can't afford one you have all my sympathies- and my fury towards the people who run "health care" in the US. Things like this should be free and freely available at any pharmacy, ER, doctor's office, walk in clinic, etc.
Very good points Felicia! In Australia there is a bit of a rigmarole to be able to get an epipen. If people are too stupid to carry it, when they have one...... https://darwinawards.com/
Load More Replies...Why do so many people feel that have to complain about everything? Bees fly around everywhere anyway so there's no difference for those with allergiesThose miserable tosspots should just go back to spying on people from behind their curtains.
Exactly. I wanted to write something similar. :)
Load More Replies...why these negative reactions, someone allergic to bee stings should have medication in their pockets., at least they try to make it better.. I will ask to all the negative people what do you do to make it better..
People are responding as if they were bee hives rather than vegetation :p so much negativity and fear (about being stung)
There's a bee sat quietly beside me from Schiphol to Sloterdijk inside the train when I first came to Netherlands! I can't help but found it's cute and have to take him with me when I get off from the train and put him in top of the flower at the park just infront of the Sloterdijk station! Bee+Flower=Lovely! Another time I found a bee rest in the shoulder of a man that crossed with me when I walk in Paris and I told that man 'there is something at your shoulder' and I try to get it using my phone just like I did at the train since I don't dare pick it with my hand but the bee fell and when I try to save it the man just stomp at the bee and said thanks to me with his smile and I'm so disappointed with our act so I just turn over my head and leave
I didn't even know bees used HUMAN public transportation. I thought that's what the bee line was for.
Imagine you're a bee and you get on the train by accident and end up miles away from your home!
Load More Replies...Please, please, please, change the title to "The Netherlands Turns 316 Bus Stops Into BUZZ Stops"!
While Holland is doing what they can to help protect the bee population, "the US Department of Agriculture has suspended data collection for its annual Honey Bee Colonies report, citing cost cuts..." https://edition.cnn.com/2019/07/06/politics/honeybees-study-usda-donald-trump-budget-cuts/index.html
Scientists hail European ban on bee-harming pesticides - Nature https://www.nature.com › news However, it is not a blanket ban, there are loop holes.
Load More Replies...I used to live in a house with a slanted glass roof over part of the kitchen (lovely light, horribly hot in the summer) which worked as a yellow jacket and bee trap since the insects tried to leave flying up, not out through the open door they got in. For a few years, I used the vacuum cleaner to get rid of wasps every time we sat down to eat lunch. One day, there was this bumble bee that had ended up inside and I did not want to harm it but it was too high up to get to so I had to wait until it got so tired it came down. Said and done, with the bumblebee in a glass with a paper as a lid I put it down at the table on the deck. It is too exhausted to fly. What to do? Aha! Feed it! So I return with a little honey on a saucer and gently put the bumblebee on the saucer, next to the honey. It soon sticks its long tongue out - and gets the tongue stuck in the honey! A literal honey trap! A few drops of water and a toothpick did the trick and after a feast on honey water it later took off.
Awe, I would do the same. In which part of the world you live in? :)
Load More Replies...These green roofing materials can be ordered online per square meter. It's delivered in a roll. The rule of thumb is, if your roof holds a grownup, it can be fitted with a green roof. Please mind, in Holland there's no snow load to speak off.
It's too hot in many parts of the world for this to work. I think it's a super cute idea. We can't even keep grass growing in So Cal, and frankly California burns all to hell every single year. I can't for the life of me figure out how So Cal is even habitable. Fires and earthquakes and meth zombies are in every big city and every small town in the whole state. Our gas is more expensive. Our traffic is the worst. Our government tries to murder us. Bees would do well to steer clear of California. Not to mention the humans lol!
My House have a roof like this, there is no problems with bees or wasps.
That was my wish throughout my entire life, and I WILL DO IT, when the time comes. Must be great, right? Did you find out about any particular problem with it? Thx. :)
Load More Replies...I'm Dutch. Bees = fine if you leave them alone. Bumble bees = cute af and can be petted sometimes. Wasps: no
Meanwhile in Serbia, government is cutting trees in bulk, and putting concrete and bloody parking lots over anything green. I live in horrible country. This is really fantastic, not only bees but all living animals and humans need more plants, grass and trees.
Seems to be a good idea and I'm very happy with that. The only problem is that 90% of bees live in the countryside and not in cities. Hopefully the green rooftops are not treated by pesticides...
Nice, it would be even better if they also teach the Dutch how to queue
If you are deathly allergic dont sit under the roof. I dun o about america and this might sound really stupid if its exactly the same but in germany and holland bus drivers will recognize you as passenger if you stand somewhat close to the bus stop, a range that expands if you are walking towards the arriving bus. Noone forces you to expose yourself to them. So what about rainy days you ask...? Ever noticed how flying animals dont fly in the rain? Just sit under the roof.
We have solar panels and usb charging ports at our bus stop in our village here (and also a charging station for e-autos nearby). We also have many bees, wasp etc. flying around and my aunt is allergic but usually they don't bother us and we don't bother them (unless one gets into the house and my aunt gets scared). A big problem is the ER is not very close in case things ever go really wrong and she goes into anaphylactic shock (or anyone here has any major health emergency... and in case of another kind of emergency the closest police and fire stations are about as far away as the closest ER - at least half an hour drive if there is no road work or/and you have to drive behind a tractor, about an hour or more with a bus and walking). To be fair we do have a doctor's praxis in the center (not far from the mentioned bus stop) and the doctor also does house visits.
Haha, look at the dislikes ;) I'm Dutch myself you Boohoo's :P
Load More Replies...This is great. I love the intentions but lots of people have phobias of bees and allergies to bees and that's not good...
People have phobias to thousands of things. If we stopped doing things because somebody might have a phobia, we would never do anything. People have phobia to dogs, cats, birds, open spaces, closed spaces, heights, storms, crowds... A person who has a phobia should look for professional help; the rest of us can't stop living our lives because of them. Allergic people should carry their medication with them anyway, just in case. Besides, honeybees don't attack if you don't pester them. Unlike humans, they only attack to defend themselves or the hive.
Load More Replies...So what? That doesn't mean they're going to sting you.
Load More Replies...Well, in all it must be around 1.000 square meters of green roof, absorbing not only rain but also CO2 and producing oxygen as well as providing a slightly better microclimate at the bus stops because of the better roof insulation. The fact that they also look lovely and thus have an effect on the mental well be(e)ing of passers-by is also no slight feat.
Load More Replies...fumes? Most of our busses are electric by now. And even if they're not, these are bus stops in normal roads, not traffic jams. Besides, even if we're densly populated, our air quality isn't that poor compared to for example US or Asian cities.
Load More Replies...Why wouldn't they just do that in their own home? You're allowed to have 5 of those plants per person in the Netherlands
Load More Replies...Am I the only one thinking "Buzz Stops"? I can't see it anywhere, and the lack of this obviously lame pun is causing me physical pain.
If “Buzz Stops” isn’t the official name, it definitely should be!! Brilliant, Ryo Bakura!!
Load More Replies...One thing that people don't do but should is put out bird baths. They aren't just for the birds, people! I've seen everything from a raven (no idea where he came from) to butterflies in my bird bath, and it's common to see both bumble bees and honey bees sitting at the edge and drinking.
Great idea! I would only add that small critters like bees need a rock or other platform to stand on so they can drink safely if the edge of your water feature or bird bath isn't shaped to accommodate them.
Load More Replies...For people worried about the bees and for those who are allergic: Mostly the bees will only go where there are flowers for them to feed on. Since these flowers will be well above human heads that should take care of most of the problems. Secondly, if you're allergic, CARRY AN EPIPEN with you! I know they've gotten ridiculously expensive here in the States but surely in the Netherlands they're more affordable. I have at least three friends here in the US who are deathly allergic to bees, who have Epipens but DON'T CARRY THEM WITH THEM. When I ask them why they don't have a real answer but say things like, oh, my purse is already full, I don't have a pocket that's the right size, etc. CARRY THE DAMN THING. And if you can't afford one you have all my sympathies- and my fury towards the people who run "health care" in the US. Things like this should be free and freely available at any pharmacy, ER, doctor's office, walk in clinic, etc.
Very good points Felicia! In Australia there is a bit of a rigmarole to be able to get an epipen. If people are too stupid to carry it, when they have one...... https://darwinawards.com/
Load More Replies...Why do so many people feel that have to complain about everything? Bees fly around everywhere anyway so there's no difference for those with allergiesThose miserable tosspots should just go back to spying on people from behind their curtains.
Exactly. I wanted to write something similar. :)
Load More Replies...why these negative reactions, someone allergic to bee stings should have medication in their pockets., at least they try to make it better.. I will ask to all the negative people what do you do to make it better..
People are responding as if they were bee hives rather than vegetation :p so much negativity and fear (about being stung)
There's a bee sat quietly beside me from Schiphol to Sloterdijk inside the train when I first came to Netherlands! I can't help but found it's cute and have to take him with me when I get off from the train and put him in top of the flower at the park just infront of the Sloterdijk station! Bee+Flower=Lovely! Another time I found a bee rest in the shoulder of a man that crossed with me when I walk in Paris and I told that man 'there is something at your shoulder' and I try to get it using my phone just like I did at the train since I don't dare pick it with my hand but the bee fell and when I try to save it the man just stomp at the bee and said thanks to me with his smile and I'm so disappointed with our act so I just turn over my head and leave
I didn't even know bees used HUMAN public transportation. I thought that's what the bee line was for.
Imagine you're a bee and you get on the train by accident and end up miles away from your home!
Load More Replies...Please, please, please, change the title to "The Netherlands Turns 316 Bus Stops Into BUZZ Stops"!
While Holland is doing what they can to help protect the bee population, "the US Department of Agriculture has suspended data collection for its annual Honey Bee Colonies report, citing cost cuts..." https://edition.cnn.com/2019/07/06/politics/honeybees-study-usda-donald-trump-budget-cuts/index.html
Scientists hail European ban on bee-harming pesticides - Nature https://www.nature.com › news However, it is not a blanket ban, there are loop holes.
Load More Replies...I used to live in a house with a slanted glass roof over part of the kitchen (lovely light, horribly hot in the summer) which worked as a yellow jacket and bee trap since the insects tried to leave flying up, not out through the open door they got in. For a few years, I used the vacuum cleaner to get rid of wasps every time we sat down to eat lunch. One day, there was this bumble bee that had ended up inside and I did not want to harm it but it was too high up to get to so I had to wait until it got so tired it came down. Said and done, with the bumblebee in a glass with a paper as a lid I put it down at the table on the deck. It is too exhausted to fly. What to do? Aha! Feed it! So I return with a little honey on a saucer and gently put the bumblebee on the saucer, next to the honey. It soon sticks its long tongue out - and gets the tongue stuck in the honey! A literal honey trap! A few drops of water and a toothpick did the trick and after a feast on honey water it later took off.
Awe, I would do the same. In which part of the world you live in? :)
Load More Replies...These green roofing materials can be ordered online per square meter. It's delivered in a roll. The rule of thumb is, if your roof holds a grownup, it can be fitted with a green roof. Please mind, in Holland there's no snow load to speak off.
It's too hot in many parts of the world for this to work. I think it's a super cute idea. We can't even keep grass growing in So Cal, and frankly California burns all to hell every single year. I can't for the life of me figure out how So Cal is even habitable. Fires and earthquakes and meth zombies are in every big city and every small town in the whole state. Our gas is more expensive. Our traffic is the worst. Our government tries to murder us. Bees would do well to steer clear of California. Not to mention the humans lol!
My House have a roof like this, there is no problems with bees or wasps.
That was my wish throughout my entire life, and I WILL DO IT, when the time comes. Must be great, right? Did you find out about any particular problem with it? Thx. :)
Load More Replies...I'm Dutch. Bees = fine if you leave them alone. Bumble bees = cute af and can be petted sometimes. Wasps: no
Meanwhile in Serbia, government is cutting trees in bulk, and putting concrete and bloody parking lots over anything green. I live in horrible country. This is really fantastic, not only bees but all living animals and humans need more plants, grass and trees.
Seems to be a good idea and I'm very happy with that. The only problem is that 90% of bees live in the countryside and not in cities. Hopefully the green rooftops are not treated by pesticides...
Nice, it would be even better if they also teach the Dutch how to queue
If you are deathly allergic dont sit under the roof. I dun o about america and this might sound really stupid if its exactly the same but in germany and holland bus drivers will recognize you as passenger if you stand somewhat close to the bus stop, a range that expands if you are walking towards the arriving bus. Noone forces you to expose yourself to them. So what about rainy days you ask...? Ever noticed how flying animals dont fly in the rain? Just sit under the roof.
We have solar panels and usb charging ports at our bus stop in our village here (and also a charging station for e-autos nearby). We also have many bees, wasp etc. flying around and my aunt is allergic but usually they don't bother us and we don't bother them (unless one gets into the house and my aunt gets scared). A big problem is the ER is not very close in case things ever go really wrong and she goes into anaphylactic shock (or anyone here has any major health emergency... and in case of another kind of emergency the closest police and fire stations are about as far away as the closest ER - at least half an hour drive if there is no road work or/and you have to drive behind a tractor, about an hour or more with a bus and walking). To be fair we do have a doctor's praxis in the center (not far from the mentioned bus stop) and the doctor also does house visits.
Haha, look at the dislikes ;) I'm Dutch myself you Boohoo's :P
Load More Replies...This is great. I love the intentions but lots of people have phobias of bees and allergies to bees and that's not good...
People have phobias to thousands of things. If we stopped doing things because somebody might have a phobia, we would never do anything. People have phobia to dogs, cats, birds, open spaces, closed spaces, heights, storms, crowds... A person who has a phobia should look for professional help; the rest of us can't stop living our lives because of them. Allergic people should carry their medication with them anyway, just in case. Besides, honeybees don't attack if you don't pester them. Unlike humans, they only attack to defend themselves or the hive.
Load More Replies...So what? That doesn't mean they're going to sting you.
Load More Replies...Well, in all it must be around 1.000 square meters of green roof, absorbing not only rain but also CO2 and producing oxygen as well as providing a slightly better microclimate at the bus stops because of the better roof insulation. The fact that they also look lovely and thus have an effect on the mental well be(e)ing of passers-by is also no slight feat.
Load More Replies...fumes? Most of our busses are electric by now. And even if they're not, these are bus stops in normal roads, not traffic jams. Besides, even if we're densly populated, our air quality isn't that poor compared to for example US or Asian cities.
Load More Replies...Why wouldn't they just do that in their own home? You're allowed to have 5 of those plants per person in the Netherlands
Load More Replies...
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