Summer Stomp 2024
Low Traffic Neighbourhoods are sections of streets where through traffic to a residential area is drastically reduced through permanent infrastructure, such as bollards, planters, and signage. York Road has had its LTN since 2020 and, although receiving some criticism in its initial development, has ultimately changed a car-stricken danger zone into a pedestrianised space where families eat and drink in the sun, children ride their bikes, and people walk free from danger and with space. Better Streets for Birmingham is pro-LTN. It is part of a range of infrastructure local governments can implement providing a range of benefits to citizens: inhalation of poisonous exhaust is reduced, physical and mental well-being is increased through active travel, local community is fostered through increased social space, and local businesses thrive.
On July 7th 2024, Better Streets for Birmingham hosted their Summer Stomp at the LTN on York Road, Kings Heath in Birmingham. The Summer Stomp, primarily, is an annual event designed to celebrate some of the accomplishments the organisation has made throughout the year. The below image shows Mat MacDonald, BsfB chairman, addressing the crowd to give out awards to our most dedicated and valuable members.
But, the Summer Stomp also promotes and showcases the effectiveness of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) for the city of Birmingham. In the traffic-free space of York Road, we set up market stalls offering free activities for adults, children and families. Henna tattoos were super popular, with mothers and their daughters getting beautiful illustrations up their hands and forearms. The website of the amazing artist can be found here: https://www.thehennagateway.com.
Dan Burwood from Fruit & Nut Village occupied a stall, giving out free tree clippings and plant advice to both beginner and expert gardeners. We provided a face-painter, doing amazing make up with googly eyes for children and their parents – the que was long all day. If you are interested in having some of her beautiful work at one of your events, she can be reached at: http://www.sarasparlour.co.uk/. Birmingham Loves Libraries were there, spreading awareness on the threats our public information services face through reading activities, arts and crafts and discussion. Crafting skills were channelled further with recycling beads and used bike materials as children turned old inner tubes into beaded jewellery with Esther Barnes and her upcycling area.
The Active Travel Wellbeing Society (TAWS) brought a range of bikes down for children and adults of all sizes to try: tandems, trikes, kids’ bikes; they were all there for free practice and experimentation.
But, if you brought your own bike, Mick and Jas from Beacon Road cycling club were on hand to provide free bike services: pumping up, cleaning down, oiling and fixing your trusty steed, keeping you going and keeping up the fight for a cleaner world.
Better Streets for Birmingham brought together these local specialists to provide a free experience for children and families. We were out in the street talking to residents, listening to their opinions on LTNs, and trying to educate local people on their effectiveness (Secretary of State for Transport, 2024). Yet, the biggest asset was brought by the construction of the street itself. The infrastructure of where we were; the new nature of York Road; the bollards and planters which created the LTN; these are what created the experience. Without safe space, children cannot cycle in the road and try new bikes. Without safe space, we cannot discuss public issues which face our community. Without safe space we cannot meet our neighbours, share food and drink, and act on those vital social desires which, quite simply, make us human.
Better Streets for Birmingham
Better Streets for Birmingham is a community group which campaigns for changes to our travel and planning infrastructure to improve the sustainability, efficiency and safety of our streets. We believe that through connecting Birmingham to reduce car dependency, we will make it a more pleasant place to work, live and play.