Cycle ban plan for city centre after collisions

Birmingham City Council are opening a consultation on their plans to stop people cycling through busy pedestrian areas

A cycling ban in Birmingham city centre is being considered with the aim of reducing the "likelihood of near misses and collisions" with pedestrians.

A consultation plan has been launched by the city council targeting people cycling through busy pedestrian areas.

The authority is the latest in a number of councils considering similar bans as the number of e-bikes being used to make deliveries continues to rise.

However, Duncan Dollimore from Cycling UK, told BBC Breakfast the plan was "completely at odds" with some of the council's transport targets.

The council has acknowledged the plans are controversial and is seeking the public's view as it remains possible no measures will be brought in.

“We are considering measures to try and decrease instances of cycling at speed through one small area of the city centre where there is high footfall, and it is unsafe to cycle due to the likelihood of near misses and collisions," a spokesperson said.

Birmingham City Council are latest in a number who have looked into banning bikes

"This does not impact on the council’s commitment to prioritise pedestrians and cyclists as part of ongoing developments and its transport plan.

“It may be that appropriate restrictions should be introduced in this pedestrian only area to restrict all cycles, some cycles, manage the direction of cycles to provide a safe flow of movement, or take no action in this issue."

Birmingham City Council are following in the footsteps of North East Lincolnshire Council, who brought in a cycling ban on a 200m pedestrianised section of Grimsby Town Centre in 2019.

Ron Shepherd, from the council, encouraged the council to be "very brave" with their ban, due to the success of their measures.

Mr Shepherd said the ban had “rejuvenated the area”.

“It’s brought back a lot of the café and street culture which we didn’t have before”, he added.

Bedford Borough Council have also introduced tight cycling restrictions in parts of its town centre.

'At odds with other policies'

In an interview with BBC Breakfast, Mr Dollimore, head of campaigns at Cycling UK, said a blanket ban on cyclists was not the best way to deal with a small number of dangerous riders.

"The irony in Birmingham is that their transport team have done a great job in encouraging people to cycle," he said.

"The transport team weren't really aware this was happening.

"We have another team in the council who are proposing something completely at odds with several other policies that Birmingham Council have."