People I spoke to on the cycle superhighways thought they were very
good. Nobody had a single criticism.
Nate, who uses the A38 cycle superhighway a couple of times a week
between home and the gym, said: 'Yes, it's really nice - much better
than when I had to ride on the road. It's all good...I mean they keep it
clean.'
Most of those I came across seemed to the think that the cycle routes
were great, and there was nothing surprising about that. Some of them
probably didn't grow up in the UK, and haven't been scarred by the
British tradition of using paint to create isolated bits of dangerous or
unusable cycle route. (I am scarred, and I can scarcely believe that an
English city council has put thought and resources into creating a
high-quality route for bikes).
One 'proof of quality' is that I didn't see anyone not using
the cycle superhighway, and riding on the road instead.
Birmingham cycle superhighways: A38
I set off from the junction of Edgbaston Park Road and the A38 Bristol
Road South, at about 8.30am. The cycle superhighway wasn't thronged (and
neither was the road), but there were people about, using it. Positive:
it struck me that they were completely relaxed - just doing a normal
activity, with no sign of nerves about traffic.
From Selly Oak, the first part of the route is on the central
reservation of the A38. It's great - wide enough (2m+), with a good
surface, and completely safe.
Minor junction
At the first minor junction, people riding on the cycle superhighway
get priority over turning traffic - 'think BLUE, let cyclists
through'.
That's a positive.
Major junction
Pebble Mill is a more significant junction, and merits traffic
lights. There seem to be sensors on the bike traffic lights, which
detect your presence. The arrangement here is well thought-out, and
works - another positive!
Where the central reservation ends, the cycle
route crosses to the left side of the road. It's still two-way, and of the
same good quality.
The strange case of Elmhurst Ballet School
All along the route, the cycle superhighway is given priority over
minor side roads and driveways. One exception is at the entrance to
Elmhurst Ballet School - here, people going straight on by bike are
asked to give way to turning traffic going in or out of the Ballet
School's drive.
It is odd, because it goes against logic and the otherwise consistent
practice on the route.
This is pure speculation on my part, but I wonder if there was
ferocious lobbying by the Ballet School to get priority for their
driveway? Did the Royal Ballet threaten to decamp to Wolverhampton? A
dance school is involved in teaching young people a physical activity.
It should be encouraging active travel, not doing its best to make
active travel less convenient.
Even on a Sunday morning, I noticed the persistent noxious smell and
taste of the vehicle exhaust fumes I'd been breathing in. This is a negative point, but not 100%.
There are benefits to cycle routes on main roads: they are direct, not
roundabout; and they are visible to people in cars, who may consider
trying them out. Also, unless you give people non-polluting options,
you'll never solve the climate crisis nor local air quality problems.
And bikes don't cause any pollution - despite the convoluted arguments
you sometimes hear to the contrary.
To create the cycle superhighway, space has been taken from the
pavement, not the road. (Given Birmingham's proposal to limit
travel by private car, and increase walking and cycling, they
might make a different choice on a future occasion).
One exception is at the junction with Priory Road, where (I believe)
there used to be three lanes of traffic, and the cycle route replaces
the left-turn lane. Vehicles may no longer turn left. This was clearly
necessary in order to keep up the quality of the cycle superhighway. It
will have required courage on the part of the City Council, and they
were brave enough to do it - another positive.
The route then switches to the right hand side of the road - but
you're not abandoned and left to make your own way across the A38,
there's a proper light-controlled crossing. Another positive.
You pass more good design at the junction with Balsall Heath Road, and
arrive at the big MacDonalds junction - where again, there are really
good arrangements to get you safely across. More positives!
Shortly after the big junction, you're sent off the Bristol Road and
onto Kent Street.
I guess that Kent Street used to be two-way for traffic, and half of
it has now been taken for the cycle route. That's another positive
example of a council actually being prepared to take a decision to
re-allocate road space away from the private car, to make active travel
possible.
At the far end of Kent Street, the cycle route finishes. There are
signs for New Street station, but I wasn't going there - I was trying to
pick up the other cycle superhighway, heading north out of Birmingham
along the A34.
Route-finding was difficult across the city centre, without any help
from cycle routes or signs. Eventually, I did make it to Lancaster
Circus. The cycle superhighway starts just before this junction,
although the underpass route at Lancaster Circus isn't very super or
well signposted.
Birmingham cycle superhighways: A34
The A34 cycle superhighway is built to the same high standards as the
A38 route. The thoughtful way junctions have been planned makes it easy
to ride. Another positive.
There weren't many people around at all, using any form of transport,
but I chatted to a man with a folding mountain bike. He told me it cost
£100, and he goes everywhere on it, including across the city centre,
south on the A38 cycle superhighway, and on using canal towpaths to the
QE Hospital. He was really enthusiastic about Birmingham's bike routes.
I was disappointed when the route ended at Churchill Road.
On the cycle superhighways, I never felt in danger, and I never felt
like a 3rd class citizen (behind those in cars and on foot, in that
order). The council hasn't bodged the design and it hasn't shied away
from difficult decisions. It's kept up the consistent quality
throughout. (At least) three cheers for those behind the scheme. Now
let's have more!
Birmingham cycle superhighways: nearby roads
I rode part of Edgbaston Park Road and Pritchatts Road, which are close
to the A38 cycle superhighway. They've been made 20mph zones, and
bicycles have been painted on the carriageway.
I'd say this is better than nothing, where there isn't space for a
protected bike lane. It could provide a 5% benefit over a 30mph road
with no cycle markings. What's really needed, though, is police
enforcement of the 20mph limit, and traffic-calming measures.