Safe streets for People at Halloween
Halloween streets for people! What an incredible sight. Last month on 31 October nearly 4,000 people came to see the Halloween themed houses along Kingsley Avenue in Kettering, North Northants. The tradition has grown over the years and making the roads safe for the thousands visiting has become paramount.
Kingsley Avenue is also known locally as ‘Halloween Street’ and the residents go to huge efforts with fantastic skill and creativity to make their street into a real showpiece for the night.
As it has grown in popularity in recent years so have the numbers of people coming to enjoy the almost theatrical creepy displays put on by residents. And so now there are literally thousands of visitors - ghosts, ghouls, witches and the less traditional dinosaurs and aliens; younger ones with parents and grandparents as well as older ones out with their mates refreshingly having something new to do on a weekday night. They roam the street stopping to queue and ‘trick or treat’ at the houses.
With the increase in numbers there is not enough pavement space for everyone and so making it safe by restricting vehicle traffic is a big priority.
Our local active travel projects at Brightwayz includes supporting community-led initiatives like this. This is the first year we have had our Brightwayz e-van which was ideal for carrying and distributing all the official ‘road closure’ signage (as well as our own design fun ‘road open to witches etc’ Halloween street signs!).
Keeping a record of the numbers was my role (four hours standing with a clicker actually went very quickly as there was so much to see). A fantastic team of volunteers make this possible every year led by the amazing Dez Dell and of course the incredible efforts of the residents of Kingsley Avenue.
We love to see and support more street closure (actually ‘street open’) events in our county. Our active travel resource library is free for use on request if you are in North Northants - you can borrow the signage and other items to help make your event safe and successful. The street closure guidance we use is based on the Playing Out guidance for play streets but can be adapted according to local needs and situations.
If you are based elsewhere do check out our range of products to support safe streets for people and ‘open’ your street to everyone!
Here at Brightwayz social enterprise we love to provide information and tips to help you, your colleagues, friends and family travel in safe, active, sustainable ways for everyday journeys.
Our unique range of products is here to help support your active travel campaigns and 100% of profits from sales is ploughed back to support the work we do. Take a look at our range here and find something to help you inspire others to travel in good ways.
Reflector Shop pack
High Vis Child Waistcoat
Brightwayz Bike Bell
Road Open to Active Travel Sign 
Road Closed Banner Sign 
High Vis Adult Waistcoat