Plea to make cycle route on Birmingham road death black spot safe to use

Transport bosses have been urged to make sure a new cycle route on a Birmingham road death black spot is safe to use.

Members of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) Investment Board approved £12.8 million for the second phase of A45 Coventry Road Cycle Route project.

This phase will see walking and cycling improvements on the A45 corridor between Oldknow Road and Swan Island and aims to build upon the existing Phase 1 from Bordesley Circus to Oldknow Road.

A report to the board said the five-year personal injury collision record on this section of the A45 is “very poor” with six fatalities, 21 serious and 113 slight injuries recorded.

But, at the meeting on Monday (September 21) Birmingham councillor Chris Garghan told fellow Investment Board members he was in support of the scheme but had been contacted by groups raising concerns.

He said: “What’s really important is not that we just design and provide this route but actually it’s usable.

“The worst case is you have a cycle route that is put in and nobody uses it because it’s more inconvenient than just riding on the roads or people don’t feel it’s safe.

“Issues were raised in phase one that there were some really bad pinch points and really poor design and poor connectivity.

“How are we making sure this is connected to phase one and then later to phase three properly so this does become a complete route as opposed to two disconnected routes nobody can use?”

Jason Griffin, Head of Transport Projects at Birmingham City Council said work is ongoing to ensure there is full connectivity for the whole route and facilities for cycling, walking and connecting to public transport.

Sandwell Council leader Ray Nock said he was worried the cycle lane could have an impact on transport costs for businesses using the route as well as on traffic congestion and pollution.

Mr Griffin said the number of lanes were not being cut but the width of the wide carriages were being reduced.

He added the route will result in the loss of 12 car parking spaces but alternatives were being looked at in the community to avoid impacting businesses there.

Board chair and City of Wolverhampton Council leader Stephen Simkins said: “That will encourage footfall because people will walk to the shops and hopefully this will see a boost.

“There’s a lot of bad press about cycle lanes. This increases safety measures. That’s the central point to this – safety.

“Something has to be done. We’ve had lots of incidents around the West Midlands where inconsiderate drivers speed at such a pace to be a danger to the general public. This mitigates that and will encourage a greater footfall.”

When Birmingham City Council held a public consultation on the cycle route plans last year, 68 per cent of respondents said they “really disliked” the proposals.

But the then-Labour run authority said the scheme would reduce collisions, increase active travel and bring other benefits such as upgraded pedestrian and cycle crossings; additional cycle parking; and more places to sit and relax.