Brum Breathes

Businesses and organisations impacted by the Birmingham Clean Air Zone (CAZ) are invited to attend a free event to find out more about what the CAZ will mean for their operations and staff, how to prepare for this and what support is available. The first event takes place on 22 May and these sessions will be repeated during June and July. For more details and to register for a place visit the Business Breathes website.

Don’t forget Clean Air Day takes place on 20 June, providing a chance to find out more about air pollution, share information with friends or colleagues and help make the air cleaner for everyone.

Plan ahead for travel

Some major events will be taking place in Birmingham over the coming weeks, so the city centre will be particularly busy. Plan ahead for travel and use public transport, walk or cycle for a smoother journey. If you need to drive, leave extra time and be prepared for city centre car parks to be extremely busy.

The following major events require traffic restrictions, click on the links for more information and maps indicating road closures:

• Sunday 12 May - Vélo Birmingham and Midlands – roads across the West Midlands will be closed to traffic in phases from 4.45am until 7pm. The event starts in Digbeth on High Street, Bordesley, alongside the Bullring and exits the city centre via the A45. The 100 mile route finishes back in Birmingham city centre on Sherlock Street. Find more travel advice for the day from Network West Midlands.

• Saturday and Sunday 25 to 26 May - Birmingham Pride – events will be taking place in the Southside of the city centre, with Hurst Street, Essex Street, Lower Essex Street and Gouch Street North all closed to traffic. This area is easily accessible by public transport. The Pride Parade takes place on 25 May, setting off from Victoria Square at 12pm. Traffic restrictions and diversions will be in place.

• Sunday 26 May – Simply Health Great Birmingham 10K – the event starts on Colmore Row and after passing through the city centre follows a route along the A34 towards Perry Barr. Roads will be closed to traffic along the route.

Walk this May

May is National Walking Month and a great time to make a determined effort to walk a little more often. Walking is good exercise as well as being an easy, free and green way to get around. So whether you get off the bus a few stops early, leave the car at home for shorter journeys or walk the kids to school, try to include walking as part of your daily routine. To celebrate National Walking Month, enter our #WalkBrum photo competition on Facebook or Twitter.

Birmingham Cycle Revolution new blue routes

The A38 segregated cycle route between Selly Oak and the city centre is in the final stages of construction, with the blue surface layer currently going down. The A34 cycle route (between Perry Barr and the city centre) is already open, providing an easier, greener and more enjoyable way to travel for many people.

With changes to road layouts along the new blue cycle routes we are asking drivers to

'Think BLUE, let cyclists through' and always abide by the give way markings at side roads and central reservations. Even better, leave the car at home and give cycling a go!

To coincide with the HSBC UK Let’s Ride Birmingham event on 9 June, there will be a celebration of all the works carried out as part of Birmingham Cycle Revolution, including a launch of the new A34 and A38 cycle routes.

Westside - Five Ways and Hagley Road

The Five Ways underpass will close to all traffic from Monday 3 June as part of works to extend the Midland Metro towards Edgbaston. Five Ways roundabout itself will remain open to traffic, however the area will be busy and you are advised to use public transport, walk or cycle for a smoother journey.

Alongside the Metro scheme, works to improve the reliability of buses along the Hagley Road will also commence. Find out more about Hagley Road bus priority measures.

Selly Oak New Road

Off peak lane closures are currently in place on Chapel Lane and Harborne Lane, Monday to Friday from 9am to 3:30pm. This is part of works around the Selly Oak Triangle to improve traffic flow and upgrade bus, pedestrian and cycling facilities. During May half term (27 to 31 May), when traffic is lighter, lane restrictions may be in place for longer periods. Find out more about this final section of the Selly Oak New Road scheme.

HS2 works

As part of works to prepare for HS2 in Birmingham, utility surveys are being carried out on Bordesley Street and Priory Queensway. Access to properties will be maintained at all times, but phased parking suspensions and pedestrian diversions will be in place from 20 May.

Dates for the diary

22 May - West Midlands Cycling summit

8 to 16 June - Bike Week

9 June - HSBC UK Let's Ride Birmingham

20 June - Clean Air Day

Please email the Birmingham Connected team if you would like to be added or removed from our mailing list: connected@birmingham.gov.uk

Article posted on 9 May 2019