Birmingham Cycle RevolutionGraham Lennard

Paul Simkins

Our Vision• An ambitious 20 year plan to support cyclists across our city;

• Build on key cycling projects such as Bike North Birmingham and the LSTF Smarter Network, Smarter Choices project;

• Incorporates recommendations of Scrutiny Report Changing Gear: Transforming Urban Movement through Cycling and Walking in Birmingham;

• Cycling an integral part of our transport network;

• Cycling part of everyday life and mass participation a reality;

• Improve our cycling routes, making the city a safe and attractive environment for cycling and walking delivering an inclusive network for all; and

• Vision needs widespread support/buy-in – messaging and engagement is fundamental.

Targets

2016:•27% increase in cycling in bid area•Additional 2000 cyclist per day;

2023:•Modal split of at least 5%

2033:•Modal split of at least 10%

Funding Opportunities

• LSTF Tranche 1– Bike North Birmingham

• LSTF Tranche 2– Smarter Network, Smarter Choices

• Cycle City Ambition Fund Feb13– Birmingham Cycle Revolution

Bid ConceptTackle the main strategic barriers to cycling within a 20 minute radius of the City Centre;

•Discontinuous provision on the key radial routes used by more confident cyclists;

•Poor surfacing and access to off road canal network;

•Poor quality signing of important ‘quiet routes’ that are used by cyclists to avoid main roads;

•Problems crossing the ring road to access the City Centre;

•Limited permeability and inconvenient routes within the City Centre due to one-way streets and gyratory systems

•Limited trip-end facilities to enable safe secure parking and access to other services for cyclists in the City Centre

Development of the Bid• Main Road corridors (6 number)

• Parallel routes (20 number)

• Canal Network (6 number)

• Green routes (5 number)

• Local Links

• Pilot 20 mph Area

• Supporting measures– Big Birmingham Bikes

– Top cycle locations

– Cycle parking

– Brompton docks

– Safer Routes to schools

– Marketing and awareness campaigns

CCAG Award

Cycle City Ambition Fund•Submit Apr13•Announced Aug13 (later than expected)•Awarded £17m towards a £24.3m Package

Development Approach• Ambitious programme

– Expenditure of £24.3m between Aug13 and Mar16

– Delivery of over 100 km of new or improved cycle network

• Consultancy support– WSP/PBA/Grontmij

– Adrian Lord (Technical Advisor)

– CRT/Leisure Services

• Key Stakeholders– Local members

– Cycle groups

– Transport operators

Developing the BidEarly Quick Wins•Marketing & Communications•Development of a Design Guide•Delivery of Canal and Green routes network

– Canal & Rivers Trust £6.0m

– Leisure Services £1.7m

•Local Links•Supporting Measures

Marketing & Communications

Communication Strategy•Maintain on-going political/stakeholder buy-in•Engagement with communities, raising awareness•Promoting support services•Joined up delivery across all transport programmes•Generate a sense of excitement

Online Presence

www.facebook.com/birminghamcyclerevolution

@bhamcitycouncil #bcrwww.birmingham.gov.uk/bcr

#bikedayfriday

Offline Activity

Mediaarticles

Preparation for promotional work

EventsBusiness

Breakfast & Canal Spoke 1 opening

Cycle Smoothie & #bikedayfriday launch

Business Bike Lunch for Top Cycle Location

Design Guide

• Identified a need for local guidance

• Provide advice on best practice UK and abroad

• Stakeholder input • Set out design principles• Example layouts• Web-based to allow easy

updating

Canal Routes• Partnership with Canal & Rivers

Trust

• 20 year old gravel towpaths

• Replace with Bitmac base course, crossfall to canal, hand laid

• Tar spray and chip surface dressing - aesthetics, better winter grip

• Sweeping off of excess grit

• Generally 2.0m wide with a canal side buffer if space allows

Green Routes

• Numerous routes around the city

• Off-road paths which cyclists and pedestrians share.

• Join up green routes, with occasional road crossings or short sections on quieter roads.

• In most places, the new surface will be tar spray and chip.

• Access control barriers

Local Links

Provide a connection between the highway network and the Canal’s and Green routes through parks and open spaces.•Mainly low cost measures

– Dropped kerbs– Carriageway markings– Direction signing

Supporting Measures

• Top Cycle Location– Grants to Business

• Big Birmingham Bikes– 5000 fully equipped hybrids

– Focus on areas of deprivation

– Permanent/loan/hire

• Brompton Docks– 3 locations

• Cycle Parking

Highway Elements

• Main Corridors• Parallel Routes• City Centre• Signing strategy• Pilot 20 mph Areas• Cycle Parking

Main Corridors• 6 radial corridors between

Outer Circle and Ring Road

• Target experienced cyclists and those that want to travel quickly

• End to end facilities– Predominantly on carriageway

cycle lanes– Some off carriageway cycle

tracks– Modifications to junctions

– New upgraded traffic signals

Main CorridorsWhy these routes?

•Good geographical spread;

•Routes with existing use that can grow – e.g. Alcester Road;

•Potential – Harborne and Erdington/Sutton Coldfield corridors;

•Extending existing works - Bristol Road LSTF scheme;

•Areas with lower levels of cycling – attempt to raise them; and

•Construction - on site early 2015.

Parallel Routes

• 20+ corridors of quieter routes within the Outer Circle and Ring Road

• Target less experienced cyclists

• Overlap with 20mph limits• Concentrate on way finding

and cycle logo’s• Minor works to maintain

continuity

Pilot 20 mph Areas

• Cabinet approval Mar13 for role out of trial

• Initial Pilot in area of most support (A1, A2, A3)

• Residential roads and local centres

• Signs and lines only• Supported by Hearts &

Minds campaigns

Area A3

Cycle Parking

Important element of project is the availability of suitable parking within the City Centre and local centres.•Top cycle locations•Station cycle hubs•On street parking

Key Proposals

• Main Corridors– With flow/Contra-flow Cycle Lanes minimum 1.5m wide

– Traffic signal upgrades to junctions, ASL’s

– Toucan crossings

– Shared use and segregated footways

• Parallel routes– Focus on way finding signing and lining

– Some toucan crossings

• Local Links– Dropped kerbs

– Signing and lining

Design Challenges

• Cycle Groups– Dedicated cycle infrastructure on highway– Continuous provision along routes

• Local Residents– Parking and Loading provisions

• Public Transport• Commuters/Business

– Highway capacity and no restrictions on movement– Loading

Current Delivery

Canals •B‘ham - Fazeley canal City Centre to Hansons Bridge

– 8.5 km 50 % complete

• Worcester/B’ham canal City Centre to Kings Norton– 9.0 km 90% complete

• B’ham mainline canal City Centre to Winson Green– 4.5 km 100% complete

• City Centre canals – 3.5km 90% complete

Current Delivery

Green Network•Cole Valley north Stechford to Ackers

– 6.5 km 50%

•Cole Valley south – 8. km 75%

•Link to Harborne Walkway– 4.5 km 0%

•River Tame Way (new and improved)– 5.5km 100%

Future Delivery

DfT expenditure•Nov14 to Sep 15•Complete canal and green routes•Local Links•Main & Parallel Routes

– 6 Main corridors

– 20+ Parallel routes

•20 mph

Local Contributions•Up to Mar16•City Centre•Smarter Choices

Delivery Risks

Maintain political and public support•Impact following implementation

Construction Challenges•Availability of contractors•Road space availability•Substantial removal and replacement of white lining•Traffic Management

Q & A