Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games

On your marks, get set...

The Commonwealth Games are happening this month making Birmingham and the wider region much busier. We can all play our part to keep the Midlands moving:

• Beat the queues by checking to see if your usual journeys will be affected
• Leave the car at home and use public transport, walk or cycle for local journeys
• Travel at different times to avoid the crowds around the events
• Download the Business Toolkit, which you can use to communicate with staff and customers across your channels

The Birmingham 2022 official website provides some top tips to keep moving during the Games. If you need more information drop-in sessions targeted at residents and businesses living or working near to a Games venue are taking place over the next two months. There are also a number of business briefing webinars still to go, however, you must register in order to attend. Register on the Official Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games website.

Tickets are still available for the Games on a first come, first served basis so act fast to secure some. Your Games ticket includes access to public transport in the local area on the day of your event, so it's the best way to travel!

Use the Games Journey Planner to find your best route!

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Walking, Cycling & Scooting

West Midlands Cycle Hire

West Midlands Cycle Hire is offering everyone in the region two free half-hour rides per day during the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. The offer is available across the West Midlands from 27 July to 8 August. Anyone over 16 who signs up via the Beryl app will be able to ride a bike or eBike for 30 minutes twice a day free of charge. The offer applies whether you are attending a Birmingham 2022 event or not. Discover more about West Midlands Cycle Hire on their website.

Cycling for Everyone

Transport for West Midland's Cycling for Everyone campaign aims to help more people get into cycling so it can be part of everyday life. From cycle training to bike giveaways, there is something for everyone. You will need to register your interest first in order to stay updated as activities get announced!

Register your interest

Going Car Free campaign

Going Car Free 2022 is a project by the charity Possible and it is running throughout July 2022. If you are a driver and would like to learn about offers that might make it easier to take fewer car journeys, we suggest you sign up to the campaign. When you join, you will also be entered into a prize draw!

Find Your Happy Place

Canal and River Trust are helping you find your happy place this summer. Spending time by the water can help boost your mood so why not explore your local canal and let us know if it made your day better!

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Public Transport Improvements

Westside Metro Extension

Bus services have returned to Broad Street with several new bus stops on Centenary Square and Broad Street.

Check with your bus operator for timetables and information on services to Broad Street and Brindleyplace. National Express West Midlands have published changes to their bus services.

Midland Metro Alliance have now handed over the Birmingham Westside Metro route to West Midlands Metro for the next stages of commissioning and driver familiarisation. A start date for passenger services is expected very soon.

Remember, Broad Street is now a red route which means motorists are unable to stop, load, unload, park, board or alight at any time. This excludes public transport.

Upper Dean Street

A new bus gate and mini roundabout have been installed on Upper Dean Street, between Dean Street and Moat Lane. Only buses, taxis and bicycles are able to travel northbound along Upper Dean Street and no motor vehicles can travel in the other direction (bicycles are allowed). This is part of the city centre segments scheme. Read more on the Birmingham City Council website.

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Travel Planning with Modeshift STARS

If your workplace is based in Birmingham, find out how the Modeshift STARS travel planning and accreditation scheme can support your organisation with the promotion of greener, healthier travel. St Basils, an organisation that works with young homeless people in Birmingham, is one of the latest workplaces to gain accreditation through the scheme and Councillor Liz Clements presented their certificate on Clean Air Day. For further information contact us: connected@birmingham.gov.uk

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CAZ Financial Incentives

Don't forget, there are a range of financial incentives to support key groups, who are owners of vehicles that will be charged if they enter the Clean Air Zone.

• Hackney Carriage Drivers
• Commercial Grant to support SMEs (Small to Medium-sized Enterprises)
• Private Hire drivers
• Vehicle Scrappage and Travel Scheme

Find out if you're eligible for any of these incentives on the Brum Breathes website.

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Road Safety Week

Road Safety week is from 14 to 20 November 2022 but we want everyone to start planning now. Thousands of schools, organisations and communities will get involved. This year's theme is Safe Roads For All which will raise awareness of key areas of road safety. 

Brake, the road safety charity, are encouraging everyone to sign up to Road Safety Week 2022, especially schools as this will enable access to posters, lesson plans and other teaching materials.

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Have your say

Bristol Road, Selly Oak enhancement scheme - Have your say on proposals for Bristol Road, Selly Oak local centre. Proposals include: re-configuring the existing road from four to two lanes, formalising on-street parking bays and the inclusion of a two-way segregated cycleway (separated from pedestrians and general traffic) that connects the existing A38 blue route to the Chapel Lane junction. Consultation closes 8 July 2022.

Winson Green Road/Heath Street landscape design - Have your say on landscape proposals for sections of Winson Green Road, Heath Street and Icknield Port Road as part of the Dudley Road Improvement scheme. Consultation goes live the week commencing 15 July 2022. 

Car Free School Streets: Experimental Traffic Regulation Order - Car Free School Streets mean streets outside certain schools are closed to motor traffic at the start and end of the day. In April 2022, the scheme was extended to five additional schools. Consultation closes 25 October 2022.

Electric Vehicle charging point survey - This survey aims to understand the electric vehicle charging needs of those living in areas who have limited or no off-street parking.  You can also find more information on funding streams available for you and your organisation towards the costs of installing chargepoints. Consultation closes 1 November 2022.

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Dates for the diary

8 July - West Midlands Net Zero Business Pledge business showcase - A webinar showcasing what businesses in the West Midlands region have done to strive for Net Zero in the region. Find out more and who will be speaking at the event. 

13 July - Webinar: How would a behavioural scientist go about influencing road user behaviour? - Read more and register for this event.

28 July - 8 August - Commonwealth Games 2022 - Find out more and purchase tickets.

4 August - Cycle to Work Day - Take part in the UK's biggest cycle commuting event.

16 - 22 September - European Mobility Week - This campaign encourages behavioural change in favour of active mobility, public transport and other clean, intelligent transport solutions. Read more on how to get involved.

24 September - 2 October - Great Big Green Week - Be part of the action to tackle climate change and protect nature.

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Article posted 7 July 2022