Cycling to West Midlands bus and rail stations falls - sparking push to reverse decline
The number of people cycling to bus and railway stations in the West Midlands has dropped prompting efforts to reverse the trend.
Data shows the number of cycle parking counts at bus and rail stations fell from 785 during Quarter Three (October, November, December) of 2024/25 to 629 in the same period in 2025/26.
A report to the West Midlands Combined Authority’s Transport Delivery Overview and Scrutiny Committee said the decrease coincided with a crackdown on illegal e-motorbike use.
They also said concerns about cycle theft may also have contributed to the drop in usage.
It added they were looking at initiatives to encourage the use of cycle stations at public transport stations.
Other data also showed there has been a drop in West Midlands Cycle Hire although a new operator, Lime, has been appointed and will take over operations on April 1.
The report said: “We are aware that cycle parking at stations and city/town-centre locations are used by food delivery riders, and that Birmingham New Street has consistently returned the highest private cycle parking counts in the region.
“The decrease in private cycle parking counts has coincided with operations, beginning in July 2025, to enforce laws around illegal e-motorbikes, commonly used by food delivery riders.
“Overall, monthly cycle counts at our stations have held steady, generally within the 200-300 range since 2021.
“There was a steep decline at the start of the Covid pandemic, but the pre-pandemic range of around 500-600 has not been achieved since.
“With cycle traffic and rail patronage skewing toward a more affluent and educated demographic, the influence of hybrid working on this is highly plausible.
“We are working with colleagues in Communications and Marketing to develop campaigns that promote the use of cycle parking at stations, and celebrate the success of reducing cycle theft overall.
“Cycle thefts across the region dropped by 10 per cent in 2025, and 12.6 per cent in 2024, a 21.4 per cent reduction from the 2023 figure.
“However, anecdotal evidence from the staff conducting cycle parking counts at stations suggests that reductions in numbers are due to the fear of cycle theft at these locations.
“The Customer Intelligence Team will be assessing any signs of theft in their coming counts, noting any broken locks and abandoned cycles that may need removing.
“There will be community engagement activities around the opening of the 5 new train stations in Birmingham and Walsall, encouraging cycling to the station.
“We are also conducting further granular analysis to understand which locations need the greatest focus to further encourage private cycle parking numbers.”
It added: “Reduction in cycle hire journeys through reduced bike availability as the scheme has entered the last few months of the current contract.
“A new procurement exercise has been undertaken, identifying Lime as the new supplier for a regional cycle and e-scooter hire scheme, which will come into place on the 1st April 2026. This will provide both e-bikes and e-scooters across the West Midlands.”
The report said there had been a 14.1 per cent increase in e-scooter journeys in Quarter Three of 2025/26 compared with the same period the year before.
