The Rush - Birmingham 2001

Scene 1 - The Ramp

" WOULD ALL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, FOR THEIR OWN
SAFETY, KEEP TO THE LEFT SIDE, WHEN MOVING ALONG THIS RAMP!"

Says the electronic voice that issues from speakers that are suspended
above the seething mass of people that make up the living surface of the ramp.
The ramp provides the setting of numerous collisions as programs of shopping
and travelling co-exist in the same place, in that the shopper suddenly finds more
people to avoid as they walk up New Street. Conversely, the traveller is suddenly
confronted with a moving wall of people, as they reach the base of the ramp. On
the ramp itself, the flow of those travellers merges with the flow of shoppers,
moving up in to the Pallasades, causing friction as the 'rush' to catch trains
'collides' with the slow amble of the browsing shopper.

Scene 2 - McDonalds
A white line drawn down the centre of the ramp tries to order some of the
chaotic flow. In order to assist this, signs and electronic voices constantly remind
pedestrians to keep left. Half way up (or down, depending on your direction of
travel) Mc Donald's happens! What seems like hundreds of people spill out, laden
with flimsy 'Coke' cups, and 'Big Mac and Fries' in brown paper bags. Whilst others
stand in the doorway eating or talking on mobile phones, all interfering with the
hoards of people who seem to be constantly moving up the ramp. On exiting
McDonalds, it is bad luck if you actually want to go down the ramp!

Scene 3 - The Pallasades

After recovering from the McDonald's incident the stampede encounters
smaller incidents as activity at shop-fronts interrupt it.
At the top of the ramp two large overhead signs welcome you to the
Pallasades shopping centre, well, one actually as the soign to the left hand side is
obscured by the concrete canopy that projects out over the ramp Predominantly.
'Woolworths' dominates the left-hand side of the tunnel which is the entrance to the
Pallasades. with women standing outside with kids in Prams as their friends are
inside. On the opposite side it 'Newlook' with its extension over the high level
walkway, situated at the head of a stairway, linking the shopping centre with
Stephenson Place below. The head of the stair forms a flashpoint as people stand
and wait to get a clear space to be able to move down, at the same time as an
almost constant onslaught of people climbing up to avoid having to contend with
the ramp. More groups of young people stand guard on the entrance chatting to
their friends on mobile phones, blocking the path for those who want to go inside.
The Newt is a pub that has its entrance on the ramp although the pub is situated
on the lower level. The ramp entrance merely takes you down two flights of stairs
to get to the entrance lobby.

Scene 4 - In search of New Street station

At the end of the tunnel, the ceiling height rises to a double height space,
where on the ground the chaotic crossing of peoples’ paths breeds more collisions,
near misses, stopping, changing direction, annoyance and frustration! The
constantly moving mass of people in the shopping centre makes railway station is
difficult to find, although there is an overhead clock above the crossroads with
some small signs pointing to different parts of the centre. New Street Station is
identified as being straight on although from this point there is no indication of
anything resembling the station. Following the flow of people being deflected from
one corner to another they negotiate their way around the shop units that block
their path to the void.

Scene 5 - The escalators.

The void in the heart of the scheme is occupied by a bank of escalators
and stairs, forming the link with the railway station below. The top of the escalator
finds people arriving from the railway station, laden with bags and suitcases,
stopping dead, trying to recognise anything that constitutes a sign of a way out.
Much to the aggravation of the ones who do know where they are going, who have
to almost climb over them. Ironically on the opposite side if the escalator void is an
open café which does permit long views to the void from the shopping centre.

Scene 6 The concourse.

The ride down the escalator causes a similar series of events, as people
race down the escalator suddenly to be confronted with seething a mass of people.
Some standing mesmerised by the destination boards as they try to find where to
catch their train. Some distribute promotional goods, some generally mill around.
Others moving from person to person telling the same elaborate story of how they
are homeless and how they need your spare change; all blocking the way for those
who want to get from the city to the train and vice versa. Around to the left and just
behind of the base of the escalator, is the entrance for those arriving by car or taxi,
with the constant stream of 'Black-Cabs' dropping off and picking up. To the left in
front are the ticket counters with the general air of anxiety as people try to get
through the interminable queue to buy their ticket and still be able to catch their
train in time.