A few days ago, despite the soaring temperatures, I decided to run a couple errands. Since both trips were within a mile and a half of my house, I hopped on my bike. For the first mile or so, I was able to cut through neighborhoods where mature trees shaded my route. With the shade and a nice breeze, the ride was amazingly comfortable. “This isn’t so bad,” I thought, casually dismissing all the heat warnings I’d heard earlier in the day.

Unfortunately, my sanguine attitude evaporated the moment I emerged from the sanctuary of a shaded neighborhood into a treeless, asphalt furnace.

No disrespect to Joan of Arc, but at least if you get burned at the stake, it’s a dry heat. This was more like being boiled. And then fried. If you built a sauna inside a kiln, it would feel something like this street.

A Hostile Walk Environment

The only thing worse than biking on a treeless street on a scorching hot day is walking on one. Since cycling creates its own breeze, you get some relief through evaporative cooling. You also reach your destination faster, which minimizes the agony. Without trees, walking along a typical city street in the summer heat is not only unpleasant, it can be life threatening.

So when you talk about “complete streets” and “active transportation” be sure to mention the importance of canopy trees. Because in a hot climate, if you don’t have shade, these options are moot. Everyone with a car is going to drive. Everyone without a car is going to suffer, or stay home.

And if you’ve never thought about street trees as a social justice issue, an afternoon spent in the summer sun walking to (and waiting for) the bus might just change your mind.