In response to Anjna’s Blog I would like further discuss the point raised about city streets. It is interesting how the pattern of a city’s streets can determine the way in which we move. Anjna talks about how historically streets were used to direct people to buildings of great importance such as the agora. It is possible to see how modern urban design plans use these same methods to assist the mobility within a city. For example, the development of the bullring uses a pedestrianised street lead to lead people from the junction of New Street and High Street (next to the Rotunda) down towards St Martin’s Church and the Bullring Markets. The visual connection between the junction and the church encourages people to walk down the street, increases footfall in the area and therefore increases custom for its businesses. Because the street is on a slope the view only shows the top of the church, encouraging one to descend towards its front door and see the building in its entirety.
While this method works there is also evidence of streets affecting the mobility of a city in a detrimental manner. An example of this is the road junction at the top of Digbeth High Street. The prospect of crossing two busy roads discourages people, who had taken the previously mentioned route, from continuing into Digbeth. This in turn cuts a potential artery of footfall into the Digbeth area.
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