Mailbox Underpass

Birmingham has an image of being an ugly city, a view which is only true for sections of the city (though let’s face it, sections of virtually every major city in the world are ugly). The Mailbox Underpass is a nice idea which I haven’t seem replicated anywhere else. What would normally be a grey, filthy underpass, useful only to rats and muggers has been transformed with a few dozen twinkly lights in various colours. It’s a great idea, and one that I’d imagine didn’t cost much either, and it makes the place visually more attractive and safer at the same time.
However, I am docking it a star due to the fact me and friend were told off for skateboarding here at night by a security guard. Why not allow skateboarders to enjoy the space as well? Maybe that’s a debate for another occasion but it’s my opinion, damn it!

Some people might be thinking why am I reviewing an underpass but this underpass is actually a nice change compared to all the dangerous looking underpasses you get in Birmingham.
I’m not saying that the whole of Birmingham is dangerous but most of the walk ways and underpasses don’t look very welcoming and look a little scary. I also had a friend who was mugged while walking through an underpass, so I’ve always been dubious about them.
Especially, for women you have to be extremely careful due to safety reasons; but I felt very safe when I walked under the underpass through Wharfside to John Bright Street.
I actually managed to walk through there myself, I think it was because of all the sparkling lights… certainly helped me take my mind of what time it was at night and the fact I was on my own. The other great thing is that it actually looks really safe and there were a couple of other people walking through there as well.

Birmingham has/​had some truly terrifying underpasses — I particularly love the mugger shaped enclaves at Five Ways Island and the straight-​out-​of-​Crimewatch feel of the Lancaster Circus walk through. The underpass at The Mailbox then — which links Wharfside Street to John Bright Street with it’s twinkly lights is a welcome change. There’s not much more to add really — it’s a simple concept — decorate previously dark, dingy space with bright, shiny things thus making it seem a lot safer — but it works well. Go and have a look — its really pretty.