Birmingham, AL: East-West Downtown Street Tour

[raildance2]

Birmingham looks pretty good in your video though.

[Freewayjim]

@raildance2 Thanks, I appreciate that.

[raildance2]

The underpass went under a wonderful train station that was destroyed to build a freeway entrance. So much for historical preservation.

Also the Civil Right Institute, 16th Ave Baptist Church and Kelly Ingram Park were passed by twice without a mention.

[Freewayjim]

@raildance2 Can't please everyone, sorry. #1 I'm not from Birmingham so I don't know all those places and #2 I can only mention so much or I'll take the viewers eyes off the road completely. Feel free to go make a video and mention those things.

[jayjasbash21]

They say this city is bad? Are you fucking kidding me this aint got shit on detroit

[Freewayjim]

@BamaFandom Thank you, the link did not work (hard to post them here). I recorded this video (and the others with it) on a late Saturday Morning last spring. Yes Roll Tide, I have no use for LSU.

[prfsnlwannabe]

Loved this vid as well. Very nice ending to the video(what was probably an old RR underpass), as well.

[Freewayjim]

@prfsnlwannabe Thanks, yes that was an old RR Underpass under what was once a good sized rail yard before they started to build the expressway there in the early 70's.

[prfsnlwannabe]

@Freewayjim So they built the Red Mountain Expwy.(correct me if I have the expressway in Birmingham wrong) where a rail yard used to be? Wow, I never knew that. Thanks for sharing that fact.

If it's okay I ask, and since I know you've also done Memphis and Nashville, do you have any plans to ever film the freeways in the Little Rock area? I've always thought that might be another small city with surprisingly interesting freeways.

[Freewayjim]

@prfsnlwannabe sure thing, I did a little research about that underpass and that's what I found. I filmed Little Rock last summer.

[prfsnlwannabe]

@Freewayjim Ah, so you did film Little Rock then! I'm slightly behind on watching a limited number of your more recent vids, for whatever reason. Though I have been making some strides to catch up on your more recent vids I missed, as of late....

[Freewayjim]

@prfsnlwannabe No problem, they are always there.

[ADWPChannel]

I will say this I live in Birmingham Alabama, if you you get into the heart of Downtown, where the "Supposedly 32 high Skyscrapers" are you be amazed!

[raulb012]

nice ghost town

[317Brett]

so is birmingham a nice place to live cause i heard about the crime rate and i'm kinda not sure

[LeonPhelpss]

@317Brett crme rate is determined by the population, either stick to yourself or stay outside city limits if you value your safety, lol.

[ashtonnesmith]

Wow !Thanks. That is one city that never comes to my mind often.

[watfulscott]

Very kewl trip , But i have to say Birmingham Alabama is just as i though it would be full of nothing .

[Bluetailvappy]

One thing I would like to find is an older map of downtown, showing the original US routes through downtown. Especially US 31 before it was put on the Red Mountain Expressway.

Nice video by the way.

[Freewayjim]

@Bluetailvappy Thanks! had I had such a map I would have added a scan in to the video.

[aijunk2]

By the way, I have not been to Des Moines since 2005 :( So it would sure help me out if you do a tour of it. Sorry i'm being annoying about this! Update me as soon as you can when you'll hitch a ride to Des Moines! Anyways, keep up the great videos!

[Freewayjim]

@aijunk2 Thanks, sorry, don't see myself getting to Des Moines anytime soon, like years soon.

[aijunk2]

@Freewayjim

Have you ever been to Des Moines before? And, it is cool. Maybe when you go through Chicago, you'll think about Des Moines!

[Freewayjim]

@aijunk2 No I have never set foot in Iowa, ain't gonna happen this year for certain.

[aijunk2]

@Freewayjim

Well, thanks for the honest answer! Keep up the videos, and maybe one day you'll tour Iowa. Trust me, it's more than a bumpy road to Chicago. :P

[Freewayjim]

@aijunk2 I'll get there someday I'm sure.

[aijunk2]

With all of your great videos, how do you afford the gas?

P.S.

Please come to the mid-west! Like, Des Moines! It just got nice over here (Averaging about high 60's per day)-and it won't stay that way for too long (maybe a month or so) before it hits the mid 80's, with humidity! Please, do a tour of Des Moines. I'm sure you'll find it exciting! I know I ask a lot of you, but I can't wait to see my old city again! By the way, love the Atlanta video (I live there now)

[1867Phoenix]

What editing program do you use for your videos?

[Freewayjim]

@1867Phoenix I use Final Cut Express 4 on a macBook Pro.

[CAMINOANDALUZ]

I always love a highway ride with you, Jim .... Impressed by the high production values in your videos. Great job very enjoyable..

[Freewayjim]

@CAMINOANDALUZ Thanks! glad you enjoyed it.

[BabyBang17datruth]

I gotta say, driving trough Birmingham reminds me of driving through Atlanta. All of these southern cities are almost identical.

[Freewayjim]

@BabyBang17datruth I live in ATL, I don't see any resemblance other than the asphalt.

[BabyBang17datruth]

@Freewayjim Actually, I was referring to the layout of downtown where the surface streets would go one direction. And the asphalt looks smoother to drive on compared to ATL. That's why I always take MARTA. :)

[BrollikIsMrNikon]

@BabyBang17datruth yea I have to agree with Jim...this no resemblance....ATL is a much larger city.....parts of it remind of new york! just no where near as big of course! lol

[BabyBang17datruth]

@BrollikIsMrNikon I was actually referring to the layout of downtown where the surface streets would go one direction. But yes, ATL is a much larger city and has a vast array of large skyscrapers. I've always been told it was the NY of the South, but now with all the traffic, it seems more like the LA of the East.

[Freewayjim]

@BabyBang17datruth Both! lol

[raildance2]

@BrollikIsMrNikon And the traffic on the freeways move in NYC, unlike ATL.

[VittoNiken]

love this kind of city tour videos

[franki3Ru550]

That city looks so empty, it needs some love to it

[millionsteve]

Awesome shot at 1:50 of the man on the walker speeding up. lol

[auriazulforever]

boring place.....where are the people ??????

[acidnaught74]

I really enjoyed this video, the town seems very tidy.

Thanks for sharing!

[Freewayjim]

@acidnaught74 Thanks for watching!

[Bryant5493]

Nicely done, Jim. I wished that was able to do a little more downtown Birmingham roadgeeking.

[Freewayjim]

@Bryant5493 Thanks Bryant, that was my first time off the interstate downtown.

[Bbgunn325]

Always loved your choice in music. Haven't heard that song in years!

[Freewayjim]

@Bbgunn325 Thank you!

[MuzeTV]

kindof a boring town. :)

[RufusandDufus]

Ah, I see you passed the church that was bombed in 1963 at 3:45.

[raildance2]

@RufusandDufus and the Civil Rights Institue and Kelly Ingram Park where the civil rights marches originated. There is a very interesting Civil Rights Trail through downtown that is self-guided.

[FreewayAndrew]

This is really nice. The views are amazing, and the music really fits with the scenery, awesome work.

[Freewayjim]

@FreewayAndrew Thanks, I was pleasantly surprised when driving through there.

[0marigolds]

filming driving has to be one of the only good times to hit so many red lights, it gave you some great opportunity to time to the audio, which is great. Good to see so many car dealerships with cars on the lot

[Freewayjim]

@0marigolds I have mixed emotions on the stoplights, you are right they give you a chance to see things and synch the audio but I also like the flow of several greenies in a row (lights that is). Either way I can work with it.

[raildance2]

@Freewayjim You don't realize how lucky you were to hit more than one green light. You usually have to drive either 3 mph or 80 mph to make all of the lights.

[georgiaroadgeek]

Great street tour, Jim!

[Freewayjim]

@georgiaroadgeek Thanks Steve.

[casmatori]

Beautiful Video And Beautiful City!

[okocha555]

Very nice street tour! Thank you!

[Freewayjim]

@okocha555 Thanks for watching.

[aswchris]

Nice street tour! Relaxing music as well. Thanks for filming :-)

[Freewayjim]

@aswchris Thank you!

[FreewayBrent]

Cool stuff; one of the last major American cities that I haven't been to yet. You picked a nice, soothing tune for this; fitting for a quiet Sunday morning drive, without the hustle and bustle of folks walking around during the rest of the week. You mentioned early on about a specific video of 20th Street; is that the main strip thru downtown? That RR overpass at the end was pretty neat and unexpected, too.

[Freewayjim]

@FreewayBrent Thanks! It was Saturday early afternoon :) The next video is 19th and 20th street, ( and more) 20th street is pretty neat and looks to be more important although it does not go the full length of downtown. Yes, that RR Underpass/Tunnel is neat, I'm surprised they made it wide enough fro 3 lanes back in 1907.

[Derham43]

Simply stated, Cool Video and Music. Great Job

[Freewayjim]

@Derham43 Thank you!

[TripleXXX8700]

Awesome video! Fascinating how it seems like the town has been frozen in time from say the 70s. Love the original looking buildings. In most places they have all been converted into lofts, condos or chic stores.

[Freewayjim]

@TripleXXX8700 Thanks!

[raildance2]

@TripleXXX8700 A lot of these buildings are condos and lofts but they have not altered the outside architecture.

[blaknoizee]

Hmm, I suppose some folks are right about me avoiding Birmingham as you mentioned the "Rustbelt" since i"m from the Rustbelt. BBVA has offered work in the city, but I'm not actually attracted to it. Not knowing how long u visited. I would only assume the city is far less active and traffic isnt much of a problem. Just wary on the crime rate there. Nice video, as always.

[Freewayjim]

@blaknoizee Thanks, was only there a few hours but considering how antiquated I-65 and I-20/59 are through town traffic could be an issue.

[CosmoPhotography]

Birmingham looks strikingly similar to downtown Raleigh. I've never been to Birmingham before (only to Talladega, Montgomery, and Mobile), so it's great to see the downtown area. Loved the historic building facts and smooth jazz! Very well done!

[Freewayjim]

@CosmoPhotography Thanks, the North-South tour should be just as good!

[FreewayTitan]

REALLY nice downtown for a Southern City down on its luck. Nice video Jim!

[Freewayjim]

@FreewayTitan Thank you, I agree!

[bigM10231]

i noticed most of the tallest buildings in the US are banks

[kellerjeff1]

Nice, Both of my Parents were born in Birmingham.

[ScrewdUPClickV2]

nice tour . seems like its a rather calm downtown district ?

[railclaimore]

@ScrewdUPClickV2 Downtown Birmingham has seen better days. Birmingham was once larger than Atlanta (until 1950), which is why its downtown grid is larger than downtown Atlanta's. It's the closest thing the South has to a Rustbelt city.

Jim, I'm curious if you shot a vid of 20th street from Lynn Park to Five Points. That's the core of Downtown Birmingham.

[Freewayjim]

@railclaimore I shot 20th street from UAB to 5th ave coming in the next video (North South street tour). From what I understand Atlanta getting the big airport upgrade in 1962 pushed it ahead of Birmingham for good.

[railclaimore]

@Freewayjim It did, and Alabama shot itself in the foot on that one. The story is that when the FAA was picking candidates for a Southeastern regional hub airport, the top two choices were Birmingham and Atlanta. Alabama had one of the highest jet fuel taxes in the country at the time and refused to lower it to attract the airport because politicians in Montgomery didn't want Birmingham to get a leg up on the rest of the state. The FAA then selected Atlanta, and the rest is history.

[Freewayjim]

@railclaimore I did not know that part of the back story, interesting! thanks.

[Freewayjim]

@ScrewdUPClickV2 It seemed that way, at least in this area, the next video shows a little more activity, but it was a saturday afternoon so I didn't expect to see much.

[ScrewdUPClickV2]

@Freewayjim sorry what i meant by calm . like a relaxing place to visit and tour n such , with no crazy people

[Freewayjim]

@ScrewdUPClickV2 LOL, well there uis a college downtown (UAB) that you'll see in the next video so you never know. Really I was impressed, it was my first time off the freeway there and I thought downtown was pretty nice.

[raildance2]

@ScrewdUPClickV2 Our crazy people are at home on Saturdays getting ready for church on Sunday.