Jammy action helps put the lid on traffic jams

Members of York's Jammed held a jam packed flash mob at a traffic hotspot in York on March 27th. The jam themed action drew attention from crowds of passersby and car drivers as dressed as waitresses, chefs and 1950s housewives we offered jam sandwiches and jam tarts as an alternative to traffic jams.

The action was sweetened by bright sunshine and some brilliant placards and slogans: 'Put the lid on traffic growth', 'Stop the jams, preserve our beautiful city' and 'Make toast not smog', which got plenty of smiles.

This fun and light-hearted action by the York's Jammed campaign, organised by York Friends of the Earth in alliance with other environmental groups, had a serious side, highlighting the potential surge in traffic threatening York over the next decade. The campaign has started in response to a recent York City Council consultation on traffic congestion with a best case scenario that merely restricts traffic growth to 8-13% by 2020.

York's Jammed is calling for the council to aim to keep traffic at least at its current levels and try to reduce traffic to make York a safer, healthier and more sustainable place to live. This action showed that there was lots of support for the campaign from both locals and tourists alike with plenty of people signing or taking away petitions for their councillors.

The campaign will be continuing so look out for another jammy action coming to your part of York soon.

For more information and how to contact your councillor and support the campaign go to the main website page: http://www.foe.co.uk/groups/yorkandryedale/544.htm