8ball
1,200 lights
You don't think there will be any uptick for out of town shopping?
Tbf, we've got Brexit on the way, so it's not a very clean experiment...
(both will continue to lose out to the internet anyhoo)
A Birmingham and Black Country thread for all things Brummie and Yam-Yam
- Thread starter cybershot
- Start date
You don't think there will be any uptick for out of town shopping?
Tbf, we've got Brexit on the way, so it's not a very clean experiment...
(both will continue to lose out to the internet anyhoo)
Smokeandsteam
Working Class First
Literally!
There are important reasons why we were a motor city. The Detroit of Britain. But, for once, we need to be ahead of the game and move to being a no car city as quickly as we can.
beesonthewhatnow
going deaf for a living
Not really. Anything you want from those places can be acquired online. If you remove cars from the centre it opens it up to become a more attractive place to visit for social reasons, with an associated growth in small business and shops. As I said, have a google for places things like this have been done.
beesonthewhatnow
going deaf for a living
I've cerated a separate thread for this as I reckon it deserves more attention than it will get in here...
Plus I can't wait to see the outrage from certain posters round here
Plus I can't wait to see the outrage from certain posters round here
8ball
1,200 lights
Ah - I missed where it said they were pedestrianising, as opposed to fiddling with speed limits and stopping through traffic - mea culpa.
Yeah, pedestrianisation can make it a nicer place and somewhere that gets used differently. Whereas if you only mess with the traffic flow I think you're mainly going to lose people going in and out (and especially across) for something heavy/cumbersome, with little gain in terms of making the place more pleasant to hang out.
As you were.
Artaxerxes
Look out, he's got a gnu!
Birmingham centre roads are a bit of a dystopian nightmare as is and while removing cars can only improve them I’m not sure that public transport is up to the job of replacing all traffic to Birmingham currently.
Smokeandsteam
Working Class First
Give me an example of where you think that's the case.
blossie33
trailer trash
What a dreadful case...
Michael Oluronbi: Birmingham pastor guilty of raping children
Three of Michael Oluronbi's victims had multiple pregnancies and his wife Juliana arranged abortions.
www.bbc.co.uk
purenarcotic
Conveniently Pocket Sized
The plans seem simple to me:
1. If you want to come into town use public transport, which will have priority on the roads
2. if you are in town walk or cycle (and maybe even get a bit healthier)
3. The promotion of walking and cycling where we all live where 25% of car journeys are less than a mile.
I think it's a really radical and necessary plan. It is also one where there is no alternative - the growth in the size of the population and the number of cars means that the current approach is not sustainable. Neither is more road building sensible or advisable.
The ongoing crisis in retail meaning we need to think again about what it is we actually want city centres to do. The centre of Birmingham is grim as fuck at night . People drive in and drive home again and the place is deserted by 7.00pm. If you want people to use the space, live in it and so on then you've got to make it a better place.
Andy Street: Wolverhampton city centre may have to change from retail tradition
West Midlands Mayor Andy Street has raised concerns over the future of Wolverhampton city centre as he urged council bosses to deliver on a raft of planned developments.www.expressandstar.com
There is no good reason for anyone to use their car in town tbf.
Using the children’s hospital? Have mobility issues?
I am all for encouraging people to use public transport and I don’t drive so this doesn’t affect me really but to say there is no good reason is a bit of an over generalisation. This will only work if public transport is radically improved though. There are still barely any night buses ffs.
Smokeandsteam
Working Class First
The Council have already said there will be special exemptions for those with disabilities.
I’m sure you can design a system that provides for the exceptions to the rule like this.
baldrick
hmmmmm
Smokeandsteam I've just noticed the reference in your bio. I read that yesterday, hadn't come across him before 
gawkrodger
Well-Known Member
I used to go to school with the daughter of Roy Wood.
Her first name?
Holly
Her first name?
Holly
BCBlues
Lend us a Twenner
Tributes for acclaimed TV producer and proud Brummie Tony Garnett
www.birminghammail.co.uk
I've always liked Ken Loach's work. I never realised he had this chap working alongside him. Sounds like he had a pretty tough childhood.
Tributes for acclaimed TV producer and proud Brummie Tony Garnett
Tributes poured in for Erdington born Tony Garnett who also produced Ballykissangel, Between The Lines and This Life, gave Line of Duty writer Jed Mercurio his first TV job
I've always liked Ken Loach's work. I never realised he had this chap working alongside him. Sounds like he had a pretty tough childhood.
blossie33
trailer trash
Tributes for acclaimed TV producer and proud Brummie Tony Garnett
Tributes for acclaimed TV producer and proud Brummie Tony Garnett
Tributes poured in for Erdington born Tony Garnett who also produced Ballykissangel, Between The Lines and This Life, gave Line of Duty writer Jed Mercurio his first TV job
I've always liked Ken Loach's work. I never realised he had this chap working alongside him. Sounds like he had a pretty tough childhood.
Yes, very sad childhood and his first wife Topsy Jane, an actress and also from Birmingham, suffered a bad nervous breakdown and never worked again
Did you know some of the outdoor scenes in Cathy Come Home were shot in Birmingham?
BCBlues
Lend us a Twenner
Yes, very sad childhood and his first wife Topsy Jane, an actress and also from Birmingham, suffered a bad nervous breakdown and never worked again
Did you know some of the outdoor scenes in Cathy Come Home were shot in Birmingham?
I had read that somewhere before yeah. Some of the old pics of Brum after WW2 are pretty grim.
a_chap
When the world came apart, where were you?
Due to me having a new job I commuted to Birmingham for the first time today.
Initial impressions:
Initial impressions:
- New Street station is quite big
- No-one looks happy
- Where are all the cyclists? It was a 15 minute walk from the station to the office and I saw exactly one person on a bike.
- Snow Hill station is a much nicer size than New Street
- er....
- That's it
BCBlues
Lend us a Twenner
The Tram is God in Brum lately. Try walking to New St say from the Square Peg and it's a dodge the Tram game.
We're all happy up here really, the sad faces are because of HS2, the House of Lords threatening to invade us and the worlds biggest Primark being one big headache.
Enjoy your new job though. Brum museum is a great place to go as is the library, not sure if rooftop is still open but it's great up there.
Smokeandsteam
Working Class First
To help you settle in:
1. it is but it’s smaller than, say, Manchester Piccadilly
2. It’s a self-depreciating look we’ve perfected over 200 plus years. Where do you live where people look happy?
3. I cycle to work and so does my wife. There are two new huge cycle lines - one coming in to town from the south of the city centre and one from the north. You can get the maps off the council website. Whilst Birmingham remains Britain’s motor city - with all the problems that brings - the new cycle lanes are one of the best things the council have done for ages. Laned off, traffic light priority and new tarmac and painted.
4. Have a look at Moor Street Station - a beauty
5. Rignt
6. Okay
baldrick
hmmmmm
The centre is rubbish for cyclists tbh. Pedestrianised areas with no cycling provision and you're expected to mix it up with buses and trams, no direct routes to get from a to b. New developments don't include cycle lanes either. That said cyclists are treated better than they used to be. Hopefully that will continue.
Smokeandsteam
Working Class First
Yes. It is a bit shit once you actually get into town (in my case once you reach the top of Hurst Street). But the 10 year transport strategy has got some really innovative plans to address that. The centre will be a walking/cycling priority zone
I’m the first to condemn the cities car obsession and ‘motor city’ hangover. But the council deserve massive credit for starting the job of tackling this. The first step was to open up access for cyclists into town and they’ve done this brilliantly. I can get from home to town through 2 parks and the new cycle lane (which every time I use it is a joy) and am only on the road for 400 yards the entire way
Artaxerxes
Look out, he's got a gnu!
Centres a bit rubbish for anyone, it’s alays very busy.
Though I do have a tendency to go up at holidays and weekends so
baldrick
hmmmmm
Yep. I've noticed a lot more people cycling now the A34 cycle route is open. I go home that way 3 days a week and it's really obvious to see. And it's also nice that people don't walk in the cycle lane either on the whole. You see one or two people doing it, but most stick to the pavement. I'm just hoping the construction of the commonwealth games stuff doesn't intrude on it and the lane stays open the whole way. I'm hoping for a big increase in cycle commuters once the weather improves
Smokeandsteam
Working Class First
Have a walk round on a weekday after 8.00. It’s a ghost town
cybershot
Well-Known Member
West Midlands trains hanging around for the time being. Stay of execution for rail firm behind months of chaos
baldrick
hmmmmm
Isn't it great? Very weird to watch though. I went through town the other day, via Brindleyplace at 5pm, on a Thursday which would usually have been heaving in the sunshine. All the bars and restaurants closed and dark. Really brought it home.
