From: Mike N. 

>Bradford Pears have zero root structure.  A more than moderate breeze will
>topple them.  They look nice, but typically limbs blow off, they tip over,
>etc.
>
>Personally, a waste of a tree...

   The pattern here was that they all broke at the top of the trunk.
Almost no trees blew over by the roots except for a huge oak tree (The one
that took out the power lines - they have had trucks out there all night
and day to clear the tree and rebuild about a 1000 ft stretch of lines.).
In my opinion, neighborhood associations give Bradford Pears too much
preference because they grow quickly.   Their wood is neither supple enough
to sway to the ground and let the wind blow over them nor to stand up
against the onslaught.

--- BBBS/NT v4.01 Flag-5