Issues

This section lists issues - problems on the street network and related matters.

Issues always relate to some geographical location, whether very local or perhaps city-wide.

You can create a new issue using the button on the right.

Listed issues, most recent first, limited to the area of Push Bikes - The Birmingham Cycling Campaign:

  • Narrow shared-use path

    Created by Bracken VanRyssen // 0 threads

    The shared-use path between Union Road and Grove Road is only wide enough for two people walking side by side and is frequently used by pedestrians, effectively designing in conflict. The path surface itself is also heavily damaged by weathering and tree roots and makes for a rather uncomfortable ride.
    This route would benefit significantly from widening and resurfacing. There is a stretch of grassy bank on the east side of the fence that could be appropriated from the Hospital to create this additional space.

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  • No cycling provision for crossing Warwick Road into town center

    Created by Bracken VanRyssen // 1 thread

    There is no cycling provision at all from the end of the shared use path next to the hospital to the cycle stands at the end of Mill Lane (Mell Square). This is the last half a mile of the official signed cycle route from the Coventry Road to Solihull center, however it fails on the last-mile provision. The Warwick Road is wide and busy and the pavement and crossings are pedestrian only, making the last stretch a bit of a pain to do by bicycle. People on bicycles have to either dismount and walk across the crossings and some distance into the center, or take their chances with the fast and busy dual-carriageway.
    Could benefit from cycle specific crossings and paths across the junction, overall pedestrian numbers are relatively low but enough people use the pavements to cause conflict if they were converted to shared-use.

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  • Towpath Potholed

    Created by Cook // 1 thread

    The Grand Union canal towpath from Lincoln Road, Olton to Catherine de Barnes is full of potholes and becomes full of mud and puddles when it rains. The alternative is the busy Warwick Rd or Coventry Rd. This is the only off road route from Solihull to Birmingham so is suitable for families and young children.

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  • Lack of Priority for Cycle Routes Around Auckland Drive

    Created by Bracken VanRyssen // 0 threads

    The (relatively new) shared-use pavements around Windward Way and Auckland Drive, have no priority over any of the numerous Cul-de-sacs, many of which are little more than communal driveways. The constant need to give way at each of these points makes cycling along the route uncomfortable and tedious, as well as making it harder to conserve momentum.

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  • Cut-through on Lugtrout Lane

    Created by Bracken VanRyssen // 0 threads

    Currently there are pedestrian fences, bollards and curbs separating the two sections of Lugtrout Lane, preventing easy access from one section to the next and avoiding cycling along the 40 mph plus Damson Parkway. This would be an ideal point for some dropped curbs and appropriately spaced bollards to increase permeability for cyclists. There is clearly latent demand for a decent cut-through as the area to the left of the railings has had the grass worn away by the imprint of bicycle tyres.

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  • Lack of cycle provision Lode Lane

    Created by Bracken VanRyssen // 0 threads

    The off-road/ service road cycle provision ends at Rowood Drive and is replaced only be a short section of advisory cycle lane culminating at an advanced stop line at the junction with Cornyx Lane, leaving the last few miles to the town centre completely absent of cycling infrastructure. It is no doubt expected that cyclists use the alternative route via Glebe Road, however this is a more circuitous route consisting of narrow and badly surfaced shared-use alleyways. With the last quarter of a mile lacking even shared-use pathways or cycle crossings, as well as this way-finding and social safety is poor.
    Cyclists value direct route as much as, if not more than, drivers and failure to cater to this and provide safe infrastructure is unlikely to encourage cycling.

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  • Humpback Bridge

    Created by Bracken VanRyssen // 0 threads

    The humpback bridge over the stream at this point is highly unsuitable for a well trafficked bicycle route, the design with extremely steep access from both directions as well as areas of mud make the bridge quite a pain to cross. This is especially problematic for bicycles with small wheels or heavy loads, that may struggle with entry and exit of the bridge. An ideal solution would be a longer bridge with gentler slopes to minimise damage to bicycle wheels and smooth out the transition. No doubt this bridge also causes problems for less-able people and represents a significant barrier which is enough of a reason in itself to undertake improvements.

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  • Broken Glass in front of the Birmingham Uni

    Created by Bracken VanRyssen // 0 threads

    The cycle path alongside the University of Birmingham campus seems to be a magnet for broken glass, especially in the area opposite the petrol station and Oakfield Road. Avoiding all the broken glass is quite a trial especially for those with less robust tires. Regular sweeping would go a long way towards improving the quality of the route.

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  • Poor Cycle Path and Pavement Surfacing

    Created by Bracken VanRyssen // 1 thread

    The pavement and marked cycle path is in pretty bad shape due to root damage and weathering and could really do with some resurfacing. As well as this the numerous side roads and the narrow pavement sections beyond the bus stop create numerous conflict points.

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  • Stratford Road Cycle Provision

    Created by Bracken VanRyssen // 0 threads

    Cycle infrastructure is disjointed and confusing, there is no clear and consistent level of infrastructure along the Stratford route. What little infrastructure there is, is mostly made up of narrow shared-use pavements. Unless you approach Shirley High Street from the west (through the park), safe access to the shopping district by bicycle is limited.

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  • cars parked in cycle lane

    Created by TonyBeaumont // 1 thread

    Out side the royal orthopaedic hospital up top 30 cars are parked in the cycle lane every day. Cyclists are forced out into the traffic lane of the A38 over a distance of about 1/4 mile.

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  • Traffic lights at junction do not change for bikes

    Created by edge // 1 thread

    When approaching this junction from the East on Widney Lane (and possibly other directions as well), the traffic lights do not detect the presence of waiting cycles.

    Since the default priority at this junction is for traffic on the Blossomfield Rd / Marshall Lake Road axis, this means that cycles heading from Widney Lane to Longmore Road have to wait indefinitely to cross the junction.

    In busy times this is not a problem, because a waiting car will trigger the traffic lights to change.

    However, at quiet times this effectively means cycles cannot cross this junction legally at all. I have experimentally waited more than 5 minutes for the lights to change. Unless a car comes to trigger the change, cyclists are stuck.

    This "bike-blindness" built into the road signalling infrastructure is unfortunately not uncommon. As well as being inconvenient for and disrespectful of cyclists, it reinforces the notion that bicycles are second-class road-users - indeed that they do not really belong on the road at all.

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  • Charfield Close Junction

    Created by Dawes Jaguar // 0 threads

    This road has been left with a hopelessly outmoded junction geometry, with huge radii and a simply breathtaking width. It's so bad that it's not unknown for oncoming vehicles to pass "continental style", because a perfectly reasonable path turning right into the close will take you way over to the right of anyone making a right turn out of the close (note there are no white lines to provide road positioning guidance). This would in fact make a great cycling link from Cob Lane into the park. There is ample room to create a cycle path and a crossing with a central refuge, and make the junction safer and less bizarre for motorists. Instead the city council has elected to take cyclists on an unlit shared path the same width as a bike, across an informal crossing upon which cyclists are instructed to dismount, and along a footpath.

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  • Cob Lane - Bournville Lane Link

    Created by Dawes Jaguar // 1 thread

    This path is supposed to be a shared use path, part of the Merritts Brook Greenway. Unfortunately it is the same width as a bicycle and completely unlit. It emerges at an informal crossing upon which cyclists are instructed to dismount. Cyclists are then expected to pedal along the pavement. It's completely useless and unnecessary, as there is a better route via Charfield Close.

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  • Victoria Common

    Created by Dawes Jaguar // 0 threads

    Cycling is banned on Victoria Common, but it represents the sort of environment in which people love to cycle. In the short term the paths should be made shared use, but longer term it would be sensible to create cycle paths through the park.

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  • Maas Road - Chatham Road Link

    Created by Dawes Jaguar // 0 threads

    If this path was made shared use, cyclists could use it to connect the official cycle route on Heath Road South with Northfield town centre via Chatham Road and Rochester Road (there is a toucan crossing that takes cyclists across Church Road).

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  • Maas Road

    Created by Dawes Jaguar // 0 threads

    Maas Road used to be two way, and was a quiet road upon which cyclists could bypass the motorised traffic that has been allowed to totally dominate Northfield High Street. Then it was turned into a two-lane, one-way rat run, and became a barrier to cycling. It should be restored to two-way for cycling.

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This map shows all issues, whether points, routes, or areas:

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