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The city council has plans to extend the current route on the A38 from Selly Oak to Longbridge, creating a ‘connected corridor’ for cyclists from central Birmingham. The Labour-run authority previously said the new 6km stretch of cycle route would help cut dependency on cars and provide a safer environment for both pedestrians and cyclists. “Transforming the city’s transport is fundamental to meeting the challenges of the next decade and beyond,” the council said in a new report. “Economic, population and housing growth will create additional demand for travel, which cannot be accommodated via ongoing car dependence.” It added that tackling the climate emergency “cannot be achieved without a wholesale shift towards public transport and active modes”. The plans have also attracted support from residents, with 55 per cent of the 846 respondents in a public consultation saying they supported them. Martin Price, co-chair of campaign group Better Streets for Birmingham, backed the project earlier this year and said that he was “incredibly pleased” to see the proposals being brought forward. “They will bring meaningful improvements to all users of the Bristol Road – whether they’re cycling to school, work or the park, walking to the shops, crossing the road to catch the bus, or driving to one of our many park and rides,” he said. “This scheme, along with cross-city bus proposals, will enable many more reliable and safe journeys along the A38. “This is in stark contrast to today’s provision where people walking have to share the pavement with cyclists, where cyclists are sometimes crammed into a corner of the lane, and where buses lack journey time reliability.” Mr Price added that redesigning Brum’s streets was “one powerful way” the council could address the city’s road safety emergency. Cabinet members at the council have been recommended to approve the project’s outline business case at a meeting next Tuesday, November 11. It will be funded by a Department for Transport external grant (£14.5m) and local match funding (£8m), which will be made up of £4m from the Clean Air Zone and £4m from bus lane enforcement.
