A series of changes to roads in Bournville and Cotteridge could be on the way as the Birmingham City Council’ initiative Places for People puts forward plans to minimise through traffic and create safer streets for people of all ages.

In an effort to prioritise the well-being of residents and enhance the livability of residential neighborhoods, the innovative Places for People initiative is taking steps to reduce traffic congestion across different areas of Birmingham. The endeavor aims to make it safer for pedestrians and cyclists to traverse the streets while creating a pleasant outdoor environment for children to play and neighbors to socialise.

Over the recent years residents have voiced concerns over the increased traffic volumes in the area particularly on side roads which are increasingly being used as rat runs, shortcuts drivers take to avoid main roads. The measures which are now set to come to Bournville and Cotteridge are designed to curb traffic, reduce noise pollution, improve air quality and an overall sense of enhanced safety.

The core principle behind Places for People is to strike a balance where residents can still access their streets by car, welcome visitors, and receive deliveries while discouraging through traffic from traversing the area without a genuine purpose.

Places for People gained traction in 2020 when temporary measures were introduced in Bournville. Large planters and bollards were strategically placed on Oak Tree Lane and Franklin Road, effectively preventing motorized vehicles from using these side streets as cut-throughs to bypass main thoroughfares. The success of this pilot program has prompted the expansion of the initiative throughout the entirety of Bournville & Cotteridge Ward, with further modifications aimed at directing through traffic onto the main roads.

The council has now launched an online consultation with a series of drop-in events to gather thoughts from local residents and people that work in the area.

Interventions are expected to be in the form of:

• Modal filters – A bollard (or planter) that stops vehicles driving all the way along a street whilst retaining full access for pedestrians and cyclists.
• One-way streets – Streets that only allow traffic in one direction, access for critical amenities, such as shops and schools is maintained.
• Segregated cycle tracks – These cycle routes allocate a section of the carriageway/ footway for cycle use only. Some physical separation is often used to stop motor vehicles from entering the space.
• On street cycle routes – A section of street suitable for cyclists to mix with general traffic, due to low vehicle speed and volume.
• Shared use paths – A shared path is designed for all types of users including pedestrians, wheelchair users and cyclists. Shared paths may be identified by signs showing a white bicycle and pedestrians on a blue background.
• Signalised crossings – Crossings that are controlled by traffic signals for pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles, often used where vehicle speeds are high or where there is a high number of pedestrians and cyclists.
• Raised zebra/parallel crossings – Raised zebra crossings combine traffic calming measures with pedestrian crossings, raised parallel crossings include the provision for cyclists to cross without having to dismount. These crossings encourage drivers to travel at their slowest where pedestrians and cyclists are crossing.
• Kerb adjustments at junctions – The corners of the kerb line at junctions are tightened, which forces vehicles to navigate the junction at a slower speed, widens the footway at the junction, and reduces the crossing distance for pedestrians.
• Traffic Calming – Measures such as speed cushions, speed humps and chicanes can be introduced to keep a street open to all traffic but to discourage its use by those who don’t need to use it for local trips.

The consultation can be found at: www.birminghambeheard.org.uk/economy/bournvillecotteridgepfp

Consultation Events

• Teams live briefing session – Register at https://bournvillecotteridgepfp.eventbrite.co.uk
• Drop-in session at Selly Oak Methodist Church – From 20 Jun 2023 at 16:00 to 20 Jun 2023 at 19:00, Langleys Rd, Selly Oak, Birmingham B29 6HT
• Drop in session at Dame Elizabeth Hall – From 24 Jun 2023 at 10:00 to 24 Jun 2023 at 13:00, Dame Elizabeth Hall, Firbank Cl, Bournville, Birmingham B30 1UA