City's £22.5m cycle route plan set for approval

The proposed cycle route would provide a safer environment for both pedestrians and cyclists, says the council

A £22.5m cycle route project will take a key step forward when it goes before councillors.

The 6km (3.7 mile) stretch from Longbridge to Selly Oak, joining an existing route into Birmingham city centre, would help cut dependency on cars and be safer for pedestrians and cyclists, the city council has said.

Cabinet members have been recommended to approve the project's outline business case at a meeting on 11 November. It is to be funded by £14.5m from the Department for Transport and £8m from local sources.

The Labour-run authority said the route along the A38 would be a "connected corridor" for cyclists.

Residents were shown images of the proposals as part of a public consultation

In a public consultation, 55% of 846 respondents supported the plans.

The local match funding will be made up of £4m from the Clean Air Zone and £4m from bus lane enforcement.

"Transforming the city's transport is fundamental to meeting the challenges of the next decade and beyond," the council said in a new report.

"Economic, population and housing growth will create additional demand for travel, which cannot be accommodated via ongoing car dependence."

It added that "a wholesale shift towards public transport and active modes" was needed as part of the response to climate change.

Martin Price, co-chair of campaign group Better Streets for Birmingham, backed the project earlier this year.

"This scheme, along with cross-city bus proposals, will enable many more reliable and safe journeys along the A38," he said.

He added this was in "stark contrast" to the current provision where pedestrians had to share the pavement with cyclists and "cyclists are sometimes crammed into a corner of the lane".

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.