Happy New Year! 2019 is set to be an exciting year for active and sustainable travel in Birmingham.  Cycling, walking and public transport provision continues to make huge strides forward across the city and we are pleased to be hosting a number of important events over the next few months.

Read on to find out more from our latest Birmingham Connected update. 

Included in this update:

• Brums on bikes!
• Selly Oak New Road works
• Metro extension works
• Living Streets Walking Summit
• Average speed cameras (A4540) Middleway Ring Road
• Ashted Circus works (A4540) Middleway Ring Road

Brums on bikes!

Make 2019 the year you take up cycling! Even a short bike ride can count towards your recommended daily activity target. The NHS web pages have some great tips for beginner cyclists and British Cycling Community Cycling Clubs across Birmingham offer groups sessions to help you enjoy getting back in the saddle.

Cycling into Birmingham will become a viable option for many more people when the new segregated cycle routes into central Birmingham open this year. The bright blue two-way cycle paths will offer high quality routes from Selly Oak via the A38 and Perry Barr via the A34. The routes are expected to be complete by March 2019 – watch this space for more information. To say we’re a little excited would be an understatement!

In the meantime if you’d like to explore some scenic off road routes check out Birmingham’s amazing network of canals. Improvements to access, better surfacing and the widening of some routes make the towpaths great places to cycle throughout the year. Find downloadable canal route maps here.

Selly Oak New Road works

The final phase of the Selly Oak New Road (SONR) project consists of improvements to the Selly Oak Triangle, made up of Bristol Road, Harborne Lane and Chapel Lane. The scheme will deliver improved access to key development sites and support the regeneration of Bournbrook / Selly Oak centre. Work is expected to commence in late March. Find out more on our web pages, including information about a public drop in event on 31 January.

Metro extension works

The next phase of the project to extend the Metro from Centenary Square to Hagley Road in Edgbaston has begun. As part of these works Midland Metro Alliance is undertaking strengthening works to the Broad Street canal bridge. The canal and towpath below the bridge is currently closed in both directions and will remain closed until early spring. More information and alternative routes for pedestrians and cyclists can be found on the Midland Metro Alliance website.

Also on the Metro network, engineering works are planned for the morning of Sunday 13 January between Soho Benson Road and Grand Central (New Street station). A shuttle bus will replace trams until 1pm on this day. Find out more from West Midlands Metro.

Living Streets Walking Summit

For the first time ever Birmingham is hosting the annual Living Streets Walking Summit, which takes place at The Council House on Friday 29 March. Bringing together thought-leaders, decisions makers and grass-roots campaigners, the Summit inspires and shapes debate on how we create streets that are fitter for walking. Find out more and book your FREE place.

The following events are also well-worth putting in the diary:

• 13 February - ROSPA Road Safety Conference at Edgbaston Cricket Ground
• 28 February – Birmingham Schools Clean Air Summit (more information will be sent to schools)
• 7 March – Birmingham Transport Summit (more information to follow)

Average speed cameras (A4540) Middleway Ring Road

In December average speed cameras were installed along a stretch of the A4540 Middleway Ring Road from five Ways to Haden Circus. The cameras are designed to improve safety by assisting with enforcement of the 40mph limit. If drivers choose to break the speed limit, they can expect to face the consequences. It is every driver’s responsibility to drive with consideration for other road users and according to the conditions (in poor weather this may be well below the speed limit). Find out more about the A4540 safety scheme.

Don’t forget that the speed limit on many residential roads in Birmingham is now 20mph. If you would like some inspiration on how to bring down speeds in your area, download our FREE toolkits (available for employers, residents, communities and schools).

Ashted Circus works (A4540) Middleway Ring Road

This scheme, which has changed Ashted Circus into a signalised crossroads, is in the final stages and is due to complete by February. Re-surfacing works are currently underway overnight (from 8pm until 6am, Monday-Friday) with closures required on all approaches. Signed diversion routes will be in place. The bus stop on Jennens Road is expected to re-open in mid-January.

Article posted on 9 January 2019