Agenda item

Briefing Note from Transport for West Midlands

The Business, Economy and Enterprise Scrutiny Board (3) received a briefing note and presentation from Transport West Midlands that gave an update on regional progress towards increasing active travel. The Cabinet Member for City Services, the Deputy Cabinet Member for Public Health and Sport and the City Council’s two representatives on the West Midlands Combined Authority Transport Delivery Committee, attended the meeting for this item of business. The West Midlands Walking and Cycling Commissioner also attend the meeting for this matter.

The Starley Network was the vision for cycling across the West Midlands, which included both the existing network and the planned future network, which was identified in the West Midlands Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) as well as the LCWIP of the Local Authorities who had published them (Birmingham, Sandwell and Solihull). The aim was that other local authorities would follow suit through the development work of the Local Authority Capability Fund to build on the local connector LCWIP routes. The West Midlands LCWIP was updated in June 2021, moving from phased delivery to delivery specified within 1, 4 and 10 years, as required by Department for Transport (DfT). The longer routes were still expected to be delivered in phases, and these had been split up over years where appropriate.

The Mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street, had appointed Adam Tranter as the region’s first Cycling and Walking Commissioner; one of his key objectives was to accelerate the delivery of the Starley Network and improve the quality of infrastructure across the region.

The Active Travel Fund and the Transforming Cities Fund investment had allowed accelerated delivery of LCWIP schemes, including the Binley Road route in Coventry. The Full Business Case for Binley Road was endorsed by WMCA Board in September 2021. There was an ask for this scheme in the region’s application for Active Travel Fund Capital 2021-22, for which a decision was currently awaited. Coventry’s plans for the Binley cycleway would be the benchmark of the quality aimed for across the West Midlands.

Bike Life was the biggest assessment of cycling in cities and urban areas across the UK and Ireland. The 2019 Bike Life Report was published in March 2020 with the next report expected Spring 2022. The 2022 report would expand to include walking and a measure of neighbourhood connections to local services such as education and grocery shops. From the 2019 report, many West Midlands residents supported the delivery of measures that allowed for safer cycling, e.g. 76% think space should be increased for people socialising, cycling and walking on their high street, and 65% supported building more cycle tracks, even if that meant less room for motor traffic.

The West Midlands Cycle Hire Scheme had been operational within the West Midlands since March 2021. There were a total of 1,350 pedal and 150 e-bikes in 8 regional locations across the 7 West Midlands Metropolitan Authorities. Scheme sponsorship was currently being sought to support the Scheme financially. Scheme usage within Coventry to-date had been positive, with key stats / observations from Coventry’s usage indicating that the city outperformed other locations.

The Board questioned officers, received responses, and discussed the following issues:

·  The installation of Bike Hire Schemes in more deprived areas of the city to address health issues.

·  Support from developers to encourage cycling and walking as modes of travel

·  Far Gosford Street – currently being considered for pedestrianisation. Consultation and liaison with partners essential.

·  Docking Stations in Gosford Street were among those most used in the City.

·  E-Scooters - need to be legislated before being considered as an alternative form of travel.

·  E-Bikes - well used. Not many in the fleet but very well used, with high demand.

·  Mobility Hubs – being investigated, to include cafés/quick stops. London had good examples of these hubs.

·  Air Quality - benefits of being active, running, walking, cycling, far outweighed any negative impact of poor air quality. Impact surveys/studies being undertaken to provide accurate information on how the implementation had impacted on health.

The Board requested that Adam Tranter’s email address be forwarded to Members of the Board.

RESOLVED that the Business, Economy and Enterprise Scrutiny Board (3):

1)  Note the updates on regional progress towards increasing active travel.

2)  Agrees to champion the continued investment in active travel within Coventry.

3)  Had no further recommendations for the Cabinet Member or representatives on the TfWM Transport Advisory Committee.