New cycle route proposed from city centre to Longbridge

National World - LocalTV

Birmingham City Council has launched a consultation on plans to extend the A38 cycle route from Selly Oak to Longbridge. The scheme would create a continuous corridor from the city centre, aiming to cut car use and improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians.

Transcript

00:00If you live or work in Birmingham, there's a good chance you've had to dodge bikes on

00:05pavements or been stuck on buses in crawling traffic.

00:09This new proposal is meant to change that.

00:11The City Council wants to complete a cycling corridor from here in the city centre all

00:16the way down to Lungbridge, linking homes, schools and shops along the I-38 into one

00:22long stretch of dedicated bike infrastructure.

00:25Right now the route runs as far as Selly Oak, but this next section would close the gap,

00:30aiming to reduce car use, cut emissions and make travel safer for those on foot or on

00:35wheels.

00:36Supporters say it's a step in the right direction not just for cyclists, but for anyone tired

00:41of crumbling crossings, shared pavements and unreliable bus journeys.

00:46The Council claims it will help meet Birmingham's net zero goal by 2030, but let's be honest

00:51most people don't cycle for the planet, they do it to save money, avoid traffic or

00:55because the buzz didn't show up again, so the real question is whether this actually

00:59makes life easier or whether it's just another plan that looks good in a slideshow.

01:05Because the truth is road design in Birmingham hasn't kept pace with the way people live now,

01:10active travel is growing but infrastructure hasn't followed, safety concerns are common

01:16and many cyclists still feel like second class citizens wedged between fast cars and narrow curbs.

01:22It's not just about making spice for bikes, it's about unclogging a network that's increasingly

01:28failing everyone.

01:29Consultation is now open, drop-in sessions are planned but this won't just be about feedback

01:35forms or carbon targets, it's about whether the Council is finally serious about making the

01:40streets work for people and not just vehicles.

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