Birmingham City Council is advancing a £22.5 million initiative to extend the A38 cycle route, linking the city centre to Longbridge with a continuous, safe corridor for cyclists and pedestrians.
The planned 6km extension from Selly Oak to Longbridge is designed to encourage more sustainable travel options, reduce reliance on cars, and improve safety for all road users along this major arterial route.
“Transforming the city’s transport is essential to meet future challenges,” the council stated in a recent report. Population growth, economic expansion, and increasing housing will drive travel demand, which cannot be met by ongoing car dependence alone.
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Addressing the climate emergency requires a fundamental shift towards public transport and active travel modes, the council explained.
Public support is strong, with 55% of 846 respondents in a consultation backing the plans. Local campaigners, such as Martin Price, co-chair of Better Streets for Birmingham, praised the project as a vital improvement for everyone using Bristol Road.
Price highlighted that the scheme will benefit cyclists, pedestrians, bus users, and drivers by offering safer and more reliable journeys. Currently, pedestrians and cyclists must share narrow pavements, and buses face unreliable journey times.
He added that redesigning city streets is a critical step toward tackling Birmingham’s road safety crisis.
The council’s cabinet will consider approving the project’s outline business case in a meeting set for Tuesday, November 11. Funding comes from a £14.5 million grant from the Department for Transport and £8 million in local match funding, derived equally from Clean Air Zone revenues and bus lane enforcement.
This ambitious project marks a major commitment to making Birmingham a greener, safer, and more connected city for all its residents.