A “green alley” movement is gaining momentum in cities across the country. All I can say it’s about time. Getting rid of the dark, smelly, and often scary and dangerous places in the big cities will go a long way to making cities not only safer but also cleaner and greener.

Here’s how three cities are turning their alleys green:

Chicago’s Green Alley program began in 2006 as part of  Mayor Richard Daley’s environmental and beautification campaign. One of its goals was to eliminate polluted water from spilling into Lake Michigan by resurfacing alleys with porous material. So far, more than 80 of the city’s 1300 alleys have “gone” green.

Seattle’s The Clear Alleys Program, launched last month, plans on making alleys in the downtown area more people-friendly by banning dumpsters, recycling bins and compost containers. Instead, they will be providing color-coded bags for trash and recycling that will be collected up to three times a day by natural gas-powered trucks.

Los Angeles has over 900 miles of alley in the city, most of which are underutilized and unsafe. The city’s Green Alleys Program, which has been running since December 2008, hopes to rectify this. Like other cities, one of the goals is to reduce and absorb rainwater runoff through the laying of permeable pavements. More pedestrian-friendly thoroughfares away from street traffic will be created, possibly with gardens and outdoor cafes.

Image: mugley