Elsa’s story

The first moment I noticed something was not quite right in Manchester was when I first went for a run around my new neighbourhood.

Freshly arrived from France, where the hierarchy of road users very clearly gives priority to pedestrians at intersections, I did not yield to a car at a marked crossing and almost got ran over. The driver yelled at me and I yelled back, unaware that the UK prioritised drivers’ convenience at every opportunity.

Since that day in 2017, much has changed, not least the 2022 change to the highway code that gives priority to people crossing or waiting to cross at a junction (although it has yet to become the default behaviours for most drivers). But it’s not going fast enough.

The second moment I was shocked by the dominance of cars in Levy/Burnage was when I first went out for a walk with my newborn in the pram and realised, I couldn’t walk on the pavement. Cars obstructing my way meant I constantly had to walk on the road, putting me and my baby at risk.

This is when I decided to join Streets For People. I don’t want my children to grow up fearing for their lives when they cycle to visit a friend or go to the park. I want them to be independent and mobile and enjoy this great neighbourhood we live in.