Cycle Lane Removed

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Permalink Reply by David on February 1, 2013 at 17:55

Who are the Councillors? And which, if any, are Labour?

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Permalink Reply by LS on February 1, 2013 at 20:23

No idea. I was told the cycle lane was put in because the homeowners complained about cars blocking their drives rather than to benefit cyclists. Now there are white lines at each driveway to prevent this.

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Permalink Reply by Andy Wood on February 1, 2013 at 21:51

Poor show.  When were the cycle lanes installed?  My daily commute used to be Garretts Green to city centre.  I tried Yardley Green Road but quickly gave up and used Bordesley Green East instead.  At least there's a bus lane.

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Permalink Reply by LS on February 1, 2013 at 23:47

About five years ago. A new senior school is opening soon where the lane used to end.

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Permalink Reply by James Avery on February 2, 2013 at 0:02

was told the cycle lane was put in because the homeowners complained about cars blocking their drives rather than to benefit cyclists. Now there are white lines at each driveway to prevent this.

By who? Just because other "prevention" tools exist does not justify removal of the lane, especially as it was a mandatory (solid line) one!

Media contacted yet? Removes whole point of any scrutiny operation, LSTF travel plans and so on.

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Permalink Reply by David on February 2, 2013 at 11:42

Given the general level of council talk about sustainable transport, road safety, and so on, this is a useful example of action that runs counter to the narrative.

I suppose that that a couple of well-aimed letters to senior Council members might produce a quick U-turn on this, purely for symbolic purposes. It might even be worth adding a comment to the Green Living consultation via Nick Grayson

So, here's what I've found in 2 minutes of searching.

Yardley Green Road spans most of Bordesley Green and across the Cole into South Yardley; it runs from Hob Moor to Wash Lane.

Which ward is the former lane section in?

Bordesley Green Ward Councillors
Councillor     Political Party
Mohammed Aikhlaq     Labour
Shafique Shah     Labour
Uzma Ahmed     Labour

South Yardley Ward Councillors
Councillor    Political Party    
David Willis    Liberal Democrat    
Nawaz Ali    Labour    
Zafar Iqbal    Labour   

I think that as 5 of 6 Cllrs are Labour, they'll be wanting to show they're following the new party line. Perhaps they just need a reminder from above.

The senior cabinet member for green city stuff is James McKay. I suspect a short, sharp note to him will prompt a useful response.

Green, Safe and Smart City     
Councillor James McKay (Harborne)
Tel: (0121) 303 1369
Email: James.McKay@birmingham.gov.uk

Would be worth cc'ing Cllr Quinn too.
Overview and Scrutiny Committees - Transport, Connectivity and Sustainability     
Councillor Victoria Quinn (Sparkbrook)
Tel: (0121) 303 2039
Email: Victoria.Quinn@birmingham.gov.uk

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Permalink Reply by LS on February 2, 2013 at 13:34

I expect it has been done to provide spaces for the kids to be dropped off at senior school.

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Permalink Reply by Rich22222 on February 2, 2013 at 13:55

Nice evidence of motorists driving on the pavement... ;)

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Permalink Reply by LS on February 2, 2013 at 23:10

This is how it is now. 

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Permalink Reply by James Avery on February 3, 2013 at 14:28

This is how it is now.

Well surely that is "evidence" that the demand is there for the over-taxed and over-burdened motorists to park in this space? Cyclists don't pay any fee to use the road, whereas cars do through VED and fuel duty, so the space is rightfully theirs. Who do these two wheeled taliban think they are, saying that they should lebensraum the roads just to indulge their niche hobby? We don't hand the road over to any other hobbyists, so why cyclists? They'll be closing the road next - we have had too much creep in their direction and I'm glad to see it reversed.

Oh - did someone say there was a change in attitude at the council?

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Permalink Reply by Robert on February 3, 2013 at 16:13

The problem is British roads are just too narrow for cycle lanes:

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Permalink Reply by David on February 3, 2013 at 18:35

Not to mention people cloning reg plates and other complicated schemes just to dodge vehicle tax.

Thick-headed white van man doesn't realise that he'd pay no tax, no insurance, no petrol at all if he had a cargo bike.

That would leave rich people and their Mercs to pay for it. And the rest of us could pay our infrastructure tax and actually get some use from it.

Robert said:

The problem is British roads are just too narrow for cycle lanes:

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