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Everyone’s favourite 1950s throwback, the Commonwealth Games, kicks off this evening in Birmingham, as the Alexander Stadium plays host to the 12-day event’s opening ceremony.
And, as we noted on the blog yesterday, locals and visitors are being encouraged to get around the city and take in all the sporting action by bike, with both Transport for West Midlands and Brompton offering free bike hire during the course of the Games.
However, not everyone is impressed by Birmingham’s active travel provision for the Games.
Izzy Knowles, a Birmingham City Council member for the Lib Dems, tweeted earlier this week that she had flagged up “confusing signage” on the recently installed cycle lane on the Edgbaston Road.
I’ve flagged up the confusing signage in Edgbaston Rd with @LizClements The newly built cycle lane has been turned into a VIP lane for CG2022. I don’t quite see how this fits in with promoting walking and cycling, or why it’s even needed when the road is to be closed to traffic. pic.twitter.com/Rfal448qXm
— Izzy Knowles 🔶🇬🇧🇪🇺🎩 (@gardensinboots) July 25, 2022
The new segregated bike lane, which sits just outside Edgbaston Stadium, where the women’s T20 cricket will be played, appears to have been repurposed as a ‘VIP lane’ for the Games.
“I don’t quite see how this fits in with promoting walking and cycling, or why it’s even needed when the road is to be closed to traffic,” Knowles wrote.
The councillor for Moseley also told the Birmingham Mail: “I went down to have a look and you could see drivers getting confused whether they were going straight or turning left and being directed down the cycle lane.
“What I’m told is it’s been turned into a temporary VIP lane for VIP visitors to the stadium, although I’m not sure why it’s needed when the road is being closed to cars during the Games anyway.
“The signage doesn’t really explain what road users are expected to do so I have flagged that up with the council. Of course, security does have to be considered so maybe this will become clearer by the time the Games start on Thursday.”
I’ve received emails, or seen adverts on a daily basis for the last 6 months to walk, cycle or get public transport to the various sporting events.
And then we use some of the *very* limited cycling infrastructure we do have for cars.
— Mark Hipwell (@markhipwell1990) July 25, 2022
Many locals were as equally baffled by the decision to temporarily “commandeer” the new bike lane for “VIP drivers”.
“I don’t get it,” one Twitter user wrote. “This piece of cycle infrastructure finished just before the Commonwealth Games, isn’t to be used for the Commonwealth Games? Or they’ve gone in a very weird way to build a VIP car lane?!
“I keep getting communications saying ‘walking or cycling will be the easiest way to get to the Games’. Doesn’t look like it from these photos.”
Another said: “Birmingham takes an *extraordinarily* long time to build any decent segregated infrastructure… and then when we do *finally* get some more, it’s during an international sporting competition where I’ve received *daily* reminders to walk or cycle, IT’S BEING USED FOR CARS!”
Others were perplexed by the road signage at the entrance to the bike/celebrity motorists lane, which simultaneously urges cyclists to dismount and share the path with pedestrians.
“If it’s a shared path why would cyclists need to dismount?” one commuter asked. “Either you can cycle there – so the dismount signs and barriers can get in the bin – or you can’t, so it isn’t a shared path.”
“Please consider other path users” if you’re not a cyclist or a pedestrian, what are you? A pigeon??
— Cat Eccles (@catecclesstour) July 25, 2022
Responding to questions about the closed cycle lanes, a spokesperson for Birmingham City Council said: “Due to the need for security measures that protect the stadium, the newly-installed segregated cycle lane has had to be removed on a temporary basis.
“The street will still be open during the Commonwealth Games at Edgbaston for pedestrians and cyclists although we are asking them to be considerate when sharing the footway on the Cannon Hill side.”
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