Officially opened in June 2019, Birmingham’s first blue route now sees over 200,000 cycling trips every year.
Martin Price, Co-chair of Better Streets for Birmingham, said “the blue route has transformed sustainable travel along the Bristol Road and is precisely the type of safe, separated cycle routes that we want to see built across the city.
“The route is used by all sorts of people - children cycling for fun, children being cycled to school, people cycling to work or university, roller skating and skateboarding, wheeling using electric wheelchairs, people scooting - either under their own steam or the hire e-scooters, and those running along its smooth surface. There’s something for everyone.
“This type of high quality cycle routes are important because they are direct, well-lit, visible and can be used by all people, no matter their age or gender, throughout the year.”
The birthday event, taking place on Saturday 7th June is being held jointly by campaign groups Better Streets for Birmingham and Pushbikes - Birmingham’s Cycling Campaign - to celebrate the cycle lane and all the safe trips it enables.
On the day, there will be a led ride leaving Hippodrome Square at 1pm promptly, travelling along the cycle lane towards the Green Heart area of the University of Birmingham Campus, where there will be free cycle checks and minor repairs.
People can also join in throughout the day by going to the junction with Sir Harry’s Road to help get the daily cycle count to 6,000 - 1,000 for every year it’s been open. All people need to do is cycle back and forth near to Sir Harry’s Road between midnight and 11.59pm. People can check progress on wmcycledata.com.
The cycle route is funded for extension through Selly Oak towards Northfield and Longbridge, giving many more communities in south west Birmingham a safe way to get around - whether that’s to the shops, school or work.
It will connect to existing routes like Merritts Brook Greenway, the Rea Valley Route, and the highly successful River Rea walk between Longbridge and Rubery, as well as Frankley’s dense network of modern low traffic neighbourhoods.
The consultation about the extension’s design is understood to be launching soon.
