NOTTINGHAM

When going to the Starbucks before starting our journey in Nottingham I realized that the cup for the drink I got was made of plastic which would mean it isn't as sustainable as it could be. However, the type of plastic used had a lighter weight compared to the ones in the United States and the top of the cup had a more opaque plastic. Also, the bottles for the ginger shots were made of recycled material which leads me to believe that Starbucks in Nottingham has opted for recyclable and more sustainable plastics instead of just getting rid of using non-biodegradable material as a whole.

Nottingham does a great job of accommodating bicycles, I think even more so than pedestrians. There are specified bike lanes and trails with proper signs for cyclists to know where to go. To me, it felt like there were more signs for cyclists than pedestrians. The cyclist signs were higher up, distinguishable, and easier to see whereas normal road signs would be more hidden, lower, and also placed in awkward locations. Also, the crosswalks are a lot more susceptible to jaywalking as they seem to move a little slower and most people from the area tend to cross the street regardless which makes me wonder if much is said about jaywalking in Nottingham. However, there are well-constructed sidewalks which are not always a prioritized aspect of infrastructure for many cities which shows some level of concern for pedestrians.

Nottingham's transit system design is pretty easy to navigate in the sense that the bus stops have a display screen similar to the ones in train stations and airports. These screens show the time of the next bus which helps people time out their transport and know what to expect. it is also a smooth process to get on and off the buses. You are more likely to see a sign pointing you to the bust stop a lot more than a proper road sign. This shows how directions are displayed to people in Nottingham as the city may prioritize locals or those taking transit. In other words, if you are not from the area, Nottingham isn't designed to assist you with foreign roads and things like that. There are also numbers at each bus stop and can be easier to navigate than getting around by walking alone.

My group looked at The Meadows, there was a lot more diversity in this area compared to Grantham by far. There was also a more prominent Muslim community which was interesting to see. The homes tend to look bigger and better designed when they are closer to the main road. For instance, some homes can afford some form of a front yard or garden however the further back you go, the number of homes with these yards or gardens starts to shrink. This same situation happens with greenspaces in these communities as they start to become less apparent the further back you go. I also noticed how many of the black people you would see were most likely those who came from immigrant families from former British colonies such as Africa or the Caribbean. It is also interesting to see how more of these people are seen in the further back homes yet these homes are still expensive and valuable which gives insight into how British inequality isn't heavily race-based and rather focuses on economy and status. For those in the back, they would have to move closer to the main road for buses but this walk isn't a long one and can still be an easy part of getting getting to where they need to go. However, there are a lot of cars parked along the sidewalks in front of these homes, especially the ones in the back showing how even in heavily transit-based cities like Nottingham, there is still an appreciation for the freedom and luxury of people owning their car.