By james art Another council is considering banning cycling in parts of the city center to prevent a “dangerous mix” of pedestrians and bicycles.
Birmingham City Council has become the latest in a series of local authorities to consult on restricting cyclists in pedestrian areas, joining Colchester, Bedford and Grimsby.
Professor David Cox, cycling guru, former chairman of Cycling UK and campaign leader of the charity’s Bike West Midlands Network group, described the proposal as “counterproductive to Birmingham’s transport strategy”.
A community safety executive report to the council claims growing numbers of cyclists delivering food and mail are traveling “at speed and without regard for other pedestrians”.
The report recommends that the council consider restricting the use of bicycles and e-bikes in high-traffic pedestrian areas.
It is thought new restrictions could be introduced as part of the Public Safety Protection Orders (PSPOs) currently in place in the city.
Professor Cox, who has cycled through the city center for 50 years, said the council should focus on solving the specific problem of e-bike couriers.
He said: “Instead of dealing with this they want to ban all cycling. This will affect people who use bicycles as a mobility aid and people like me who are elderly.”
The city center has been “completely neglected” in terms of cycling infrastructure, Prof Cox claims.
Martin Price, head of policy at tourism campaign group Better Streets for Birmingham, said the solution was “a network of safe, segregated cycle routes in the city centre” as well as making delivery platforms “take responsibility for their couriers”. .
At least nine cities across the country have introduced cycling or skateboarding bans similar to those proposed in Birmingham. The Guardian reports.
Bedford has seen 738 people fined for cycling in pedestrian areas in recent months, according to Peter Blakeman, chairman of Cycling Campaign for North Bedfordshire.
Writing an open letter in The Bedford IndependentMr Blakeman said the result was “a big drop in residents cycling into the city”.
In Grimsby, councilor Ron Shepherd told people to “get off their bike and walk on the relatively short stretch of pavement” if they wanted to avoid a fine for riding in the town centre.
Birmingham City Council said: “We are considering measures to try to reduce the incidence of high speed cycling through a small area of the city center where there is a high step and it is not safe to cycle due to the likelihood of close accidents and collisions.
“Before any decisions are made, we are seeking everyone’s views through consultation on how best to manage the issue.
“This does not affect the council’s commitment to prioritize pedestrians and cyclists as part of ongoing developments and its transport plan.
“Appropriate restrictions can be put in place in this pedestrian only area to restrict all cycles, some cycles, manage the direction of cycles to ensure safe traffic flow or no action on this issue. “