Birmingham pt II

Got the following response from Graham of Birmingham Push Bikes from my post about cycling in Birmingham:-

Seems you were predominantly following or trying to follow NCN5.  The Birmingham Cycling and Walking Map shows all the 'formal' cycle routes, plus roads 'favoured' by cyclists, canal access points, Rights of Way that permit cycling, et all. There were copies in FoE on Saturday. NCN5  and other NCN routes ARE signed on site but the signs are not always obvious - might be just a 'sticker' wrapped around a lamp column, or gone missing, or hidden by tree growth. Sustrans does have Rangers who look out for such things.

There is indeed "a lot of traffic" here but I am surprised that you saw "no cyclists". Birmingham is a big, busy city and some people have to travel great distances into or around the city at all sorts of times and the overwhelming majority of these journeys are (some would argue have to be) by car. There are rail services but public transport is largely served by the bus and we have no extensive Metro system. Yes, Birmingham does have the lowest percentage of journeys made by bicycle (less than 1%) and it is, historically, 'car city', yet those of us who see the city every day know that there are more cyclists.  A few years ago I could travel for a day or more and never see a cyclist; now I see a cyclist every few minutes, usually. There are numerous cyclists in and around Moseley and 20% of Push Bikes' membership lives there!

"A distinct lack of cycling infrastructure".  Depends where you are cycling. Several traffic light junctions now have ASLs but Bham is a big city with many thousands of traffic lights. I understand that the city council's policy is to provide ASLs at all new traffic light installations and there is evidence that is being done.  Here in Birmingham it takes a long time to change an infrastructure but could only take a few days (I reckon) to train a cyclist to ride with what is already there......

Potholes. There is a direct telephone line to the council for reporting any dangerous pothole. Once reported, the council is obliged to repair it within a tight timescale. The phone number is on the Cycling Map.

"Peering down side roads I thought I might spot the odd 20mph zone but none were to be seen".  There are a few 20 limited roads but none on the routes I use.  From an entirely personal viewpoint that doesn't 'bother' me at all.  Here, 20mph roads are usually engineered by speed humps across the full width of the road, un-bypassed chicanes and pinch points etc. which make MY cycle journey slower and more difficult! In any event, of all my many years of cycling in Birmingham I have never had any issue from the speed of a vehicle - impatience and poor observation maybe, but never speed of itself. I  am usually held up by cars travelling slowly!  Currently I understand that the council has no plans for city-wide 20 limits, although there are localised campaigns in some areas, eg. Moseley.

"Adventurous shared space sections, when you get to the Central Library things become somewhat confusing". Although there are no formal signs, the area Centenary Square, Victoria Square is by 'common accepted practice' 'shared' by cyclists and pedestrians and there are certainly no 'No Cycling' signs! Each should travel with observation and caution.  The Central Library is to be moved to Centenary Square so building works and diversions are now present.

Of course I live here so I do not regard on-road cycling as 'crap' - yes,  there are fewer 'cycling facilities' than some towns have but as an experienced cyclist I ride with attention to positioning and observation, and that is the advice I pass on to anyone who wishes to cycle.  Push Bikes holds annual meetings where cyclists are invited to 'shout at' the council and we make notes of their issues on large maps. These notes are passed to the Cycling Officer for action or replies. Push Bikes also meets the council at the quarterly Cycling Advisory Group. 

I am surprised that you make no mention of cycle lanes ie the lack of them. There are several stretches of lane in the city, and "more cycle lanes" is the most frequent call at the meetings just mentioned. But it was also acknowledged that there would never be a cycle lane along every road and that, in the words of the city's Cycling Officer, "there was no substitute for competent cycling" and I agree with that. Infrastructure changes take many months, usually years but if more adults took National Standard training and were made more aware of positioning etc we could increase the number of cyclists in a few weeks! Training is available and offered to the less-experienced cyclist but the take-up is very low indeed.