News / protest
Campaigners to stage protest for safer roads in Bristol
People will come together in Bedminster on Saturday to protest dangerous driving and the dominance of cars on Bristol’s streets.
The static, peaceful demonstration has been organised by a grassroots coalition of community groups including Bristol organisation Playing Out, which enables children to play outside on their own streets, and RoadPeace, a national charity for road crash victims.
Called Safe Streets Now, campaigners want to raise awareness about the issue of road danger and its impact on people’s everyday lives. Across the UK, someone is killed or seriously injured on our roads every 16 minutes.
They also want to call for the redesign of our roads so that walkers, wheelers and cyclists are protected from vehicle traffic.
“We believe children should be able to grow up in towns, cities and villages where they are safe to walk or cycle to school, to meet friends and to play outside”, a spokesperson said.
Protesters will make their way down to Cannon Street roundabout – a spot organisers say is dangerous for cyclists and pedestrians – photo: Betty Woolerton
Alice Ferguson from Playing Out said: “Our streets are not safe and this is preventing all children from having the freedom they need to live happy, healthy lives.”
“In the UK alone, roughly 30 children are killed or seriously injured every week while walking, cycling or playing outside where they live.
“This is an unspoken and appalling tragedy – and worse still, it’s preventable.
“It’s time to come together as a society and say enough is enough.
“It’s time to reclaim our streets.”
Bristol Cycling Campaign added it was “taking a stand to call for an end to the widespread death, injury and intimidation of vulnerable road users”.
Bristol #SafeStreetsNow 30th Sept – please join us on East St, BS3 to call for safe streets for children, older people and everyone in all neighbourhoods across the city. pic.twitter.com/eXuXrzqXuy
— Alice Ferguson (@aliceplayingout) September 18, 2023
Similar protests are taking place across in around a dozen UK towns and cities including London, Birmingham and Manchester.
In BS3, the demonstration will begin at 11am and end at 12pm with a one-minute silence for the victims of road and traffic collisions.
Protesters will meet at the junction between East Street and Cannon Street before moving down to Cannon Street’s roundabout.
For updates, visit www.facebook.com/events/700823721543847
Main photo: Betty Woolerton
Read next:
- Just Stop Oil protesters slowly march through Bristol
- Four in five Bristol cyclists experience ‘issues with aggressive driving’
- ‘I want a city which prioritises cyclists, walkers and wheelers over cars’
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