Cycling in and around Birmingham England

Morrisons Edgbaston

When this is built will this mean that the bus/cycle lane leading up to Five Ways on Harborne Road is scrapped or will access to the supermarket be via Hagley Road only?

This route is really popular with cyclists in the morning so I'd be interested what they're going to do there. We're currently being diverted into the normal traffic as a section of it is now coned off.

Ryan

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Permalink Reply by James Lee on February 14, 2012 at 7:06

When I ride to Morrisons in Solihull, I have to take a RH turn across the dual carriageway Warwick Rd opposite Solihull School.

I get myself in the RH lane ( eastbound ) on appraoch to the Pelicon crossing before Union Road. When the crossing signals change to green, I ride in the RH lane, but cannot signal until I have passed the filter exit to Warwick Rd multistorey car park. Then the RH signal is given to turn into George Road.

How many times have motorists hooted at me because I was riding a bike down the RH lane ??

There are no special facilities for cyclists. Its a case of 'use the road as if I was a motorcycle'.

When you are in the 'normal traffic' ( whatever that is ?? ), behave like a road user,, i.e. "a person legally entitled to use the road."

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Permalink Reply by Ryan Stait on February 14, 2012 at 11:54

James,

I'm sure lots of people use the Harborne Road bus/cycle lane as it separates them from the normal traffic and they prefer it to using Hagley. I was just curious as to whether anybody knew whether this lane will now be removed to allow drivers to go into Morrisons.

Ryan

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Permalink Reply by James Lee on February 14, 2012 at 12:04

When a section of road is 'coned off' for workings, it is an opportunity for motor traffic to learn the rights of cyclists.

If the regular cyclists down there deliberately take an alternative route to avoid mixing-it with the traffic, the motorists have won.

It is as much YOUR road as theirs.

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Permalink Reply by Chris on February 14, 2012 at 15:10

James - there is a rant thread for discussing riding with motor vehicles vs segregation from motor vehicles. Take your comments there.

Ryan - It is difficult to find out what plans there are for changes to roads. The process of 'consultation' is different to the planning process for building work. There might be information here on it, or you could contact the council. Getting this sort of information can be very difficult - so if you find out how to, please do share it here!

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Permalink Reply by Rich22222 on February 14, 2012 at 20:24

Nice short url to the planning application/documents:

http://eplanning.birmingham.gov.uk/Northgate/PlanningExplorer/Gener...

Happy reading :)

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Permalink Reply by Chris on February 14, 2012 at 20:45

Thanks Rich.

The new bus stop on Harborne Road is just at the start of the development site, then the bus lane will end quite abruptly, so there is quite a distance of bus lane lost.

Nice long entry slip lanes for the multi-story car park, because the cars will need a smooth run to make full use of the 10mph speed limit inside - heaven forbid that they should have tight corners and actually be forced to slow down for the pedestrian crossings / pavement.

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Permalink Reply by Rich22222 on February 14, 2012 at 21:06

Going by what you say Chris, I don't think the reduced bus lane will make a vast difference to cyclists, but this redevelopment could have been an ideal opportunity to seriously improve things, ie linking the five ways tunnel paths to the bus lane, another fine example of BCC's commitment to sustainable travel by the sounds of things.

Unfortunately I didn't know about the consultation or I would have made sure I was consulted.

Ryans mention is the first I've heard about it for a few years.

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Permalink Reply by Chris on February 14, 2012 at 21:29

Linking to the Five Ways' underpasses would have been wonderful - not much understanding of cyclists needs in the highways section of BCC though.

The consultation went on in 2010 and early 2011. Hopefully we'll catch more of these in the future....

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Permalink Reply by Ryan Stait on February 15, 2012 at 9:08

I think I'll still drop a line to the Councillor for the area for their views

Chris said:

Linking to the Five Ways' underpasses would have been wonderful - not much understanding of cyclists needs in the highways section of BCC though.

The consultation went on in 2010 and early 2011. Hopefully we'll catch more of these in the future....