This was an unofficial 'plain English' version of the Big City Plan Work in Progress consultation document about how Birmingham (UK) should be developed over the next 20 years. For more information, see the About page.
To find your way around, use the links under 'Contents' below.
The official consultation closed at 23:59 on Friday 6th February. We closed comments on the same day at 12 noon here in order to get them to the council on time, in the format they want.
We sent a printed copy of all comments that were made before midnight on 4th Feb to the council by post (recorded delivery). And sent the balance electronically (on 6th Feb).
You can email us at hello@bigcitytalk.org.uk
How can cycling to, from and within the city centre be encouraged and where should investment be targeted? How can the hostility of the highways environment to cyclists be removed?
How can cycling to, from and within the city centre be encouraged?
In what ways, and in which areas should we spend money to do this?
How can we make cycling on our streets easier and less dangerous?
Theme Based on one designed by Rajveer Singh Rathore · Powered by WordPress· Hosted and set up by Jon Bounds
The biggest disincentive to me cycling to the city centre is that I am worried about having my bike stolen. I don't think I am alone in this.
It would be worth having far, far more places that a bike could be locked securely. These places for locking bikes should be actually usable. The “wheel only” bike locking place in the Bullring is ridiculous – it is not remotely secure.
In order to encourage people to use bikes when coming to the city centre for work, perhaps encourage businesses to provide cycle “cages” which are secure and need a key to get in. Once inside, these cages, there would also need to be something very secure for each bike to be locked to – the lock of the cage is not enough on its own. Guidelines on where to site these things would be useful. They should be in well lit areas where there are plenty of people around, not some dingy alley where people are scared to go at night.
Perhaps more provision on trains/buses/trams for bikes, so that “mixed mode” journeys become possible. Good provision of cycle locking facilities at railway stations, ram stations, busy bus “interchanges” that are as secure as they can be. Question: do the cycle lockers at Selly Oak station work, and do they have a good take up rate?
Also: not everyone wants to arrive at work hot and sweaty. Some businesses might provide shower facilities I guess, but could it be worthwhile providing nice clean facilities for cyclists to shower and change? Perhaps at the main railway stations in the City Centre, or linked to major cycle parking facilities? I'm not sure that this would work (maybe it would be too busy at rush hour, maybe it would get abused somehow). However, it is worth considering.