Charlotte tries out rubber sidewalk in effort to reduce gray and green infrastructure conflicts, enhance street-side canopy; Charlotte, NC

When the rubber meets the sidewalk - CharlotteObserver.com
Pedestrians on The Plaza will feel something softer beneath their feet as a new material gets a tryout.
By Lindsay Ruebens
lruebens@charlotteobserver.com
Posted: Wednesday, Jul. 15, 2009
Square by square, the city of Charlotte on Wednesday laid down a new attempt at protecting its trees: rubber sidewalks.
The experimental sites are along The Plaza at Commonwealth Avenue and on West 28th Street.
Rubber sidewalks developed by the California company Rubber Sidewalks were created to be less invasive for tree roots and more flexible and porous than concrete. They're also easier to walk on. The rubber tiles, each made of recycled tires, are recyclable and can be flipped when one side gets worn.