Following last year's change of direction by BCR (see our previous article), the formal consultation on the segregated cycle track along Bristol Road from the city centre to Selly Oak has been launched. This 4km stretch of high-quality segregated track is one of two that will be built this year and if they are completed successfully, they will demonstrate that Birmingham is able to deliver high quality space for cycling.
The Selly Oak Green Travel District (GTD) is the first of several GTDs that will be established across Birmingham. These will bring together local organisations and businesses to try to improve travel options in that area to promote green travel. The Birmingham Cycle Revolution has allocated some funding for delivering some improvements for cycling focused around the GTD areas, including Selly Oak GTD. There has been a request for local cycle users to suggest locations where some changes could be made.
There are a few cycle stands outside the entrance to 10 Woodcock Street, railings on the opposite side of the road, and more railings at the other end of the building near Heneage Street West.
The first section of the Birmingham Cycle Revolution is drawing to a close, and so we are starting to review the routes that have been made. This is a review of the A47 Parkway route that goes from Millennium Point alongside the A47 dual carriageway to Spitfire Island and the edge of Castle Vale. Although the initial plans included works to improve the underpasses at Ashted Circus, a 'pinch-point' scheme to do away with the whole island has superseded the BCR plans, and so that section of the route is being left alone for the moment.
In recent weeks, cyclists in Birmingham may have noticed a number of new additions in terms of the cycling infrastructure around the city. Sadly, most of them hardly qualify to be named infrastructure, so let's take a look at the example which fits into this category – painted cycle symbols and Advanced Stop Lines (ASLs) on parallel routes, with a particular focus on Edgbaston Park Road.
On the 11th April, Birmingham City Council organised their bi-annual Cycle Forum, to give us updates about the Birmingham Cycle Revolution and also let us know about other cycling issues in and around Birmingham. This latest cycle forum had an update on the progress of BCR and the future direction of BCR, details about the national Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy consultation.
