Election Day Mayoral Pledges.

[Ronnoc]

If anything, cyclists using the roads and holding up buses should be even more of a reason for segregated cycle lanes. As I've said, if cycling infrastructure is built properly, then more cyclists will get off the road and traffic can be reduced. 

[cardew]

If anything, cyclists using the roads and holding up buses should be even more of a reason for segregated cycle lanes. As I've said, if cycling infrastructure is built properly, then more cyclists will get off the road and traffic can be reduced.

Crucially, segregated cycle lanes that are maintained and kept clear of broken glass, sunken drain covers and raised tree roots. One can dream.

[Tony]

Crucially, segregated cycle lanes that are maintained and kept clear of broken glass, sunken drain covers and raised tree roots. One can dream.

The Perry Barr one is excellent with cycle priority at crossings etc. But still some insist in slowing buses down in parallel bus lanes

[cardew]

The Perry Barr one is excellent with cycle priority at crossings etc. But still some insist in slowing buses down in parallel bus lanes

As is the blue route section of the Bristol Road, other older ones are painfully bad (Stratford Road in Shirley for example).

Yes some cyclists are inconsiderate, some selfish motorists park in bus lanes rather than in a side street or a car park. 

[BlackCountryBusSpotter]

As is the blue route section of the Bristol Road, other older ones are painfully bad (Stratford Road in Shirley for example).

Yes some cyclists are inconsiderate, some selfish motorists park in bus lanes rather than in a side street or a car park.

Forget Bus lanes but motorists park all down the side of The A41 Holyhead/Soho Road which I'm sure is supposed to be a dualcarriageway or many years ago was. They want a crosscity route down there good luck with that it is one the biggest bottlenecks that side of the city. It is why the 79 doesn't go from Wolverhampton to Birmingham and why the 74 takes almost 40 minutes from West Brom to Birmingham 

[Tony]

Forget Bus lanes but motorists park all down the side of The A41 Holyhead/Soho Road which I'm sure is supposed to be a dualcarriageway or many years ago was. They want a crosscity route down there good luck with that it is one the biggest bottlenecks that side of the city. It is why the 79 doesn't go from Wolverhampton to Birmingham and why the 74 takes almost 40 minutes from West Brom to Birmingham

Soho Road has never been a dual carriageway 

[BK63 YWP]

Forget Bus lanes but motorists park all down the side of The A41 Holyhead/Soho Road which I'm sure is supposed to be a dualcarriageway or many years ago was. They want a crosscity route down there good luck with that it is one the biggest bottlenecks that side of the city. It is why the 79 doesn't go from Wolverhampton to Birmingham and why the 74 takes almost 40 minutes from West Brom to Birmingham

Soho road is a single carriageway, for it to be a dual carriageway it needs a natural/manmade division like a motorway (is a dual carriageway)

[BlackCountryBusSpotter]

Soho Road has never been a dual carriageway

Oh it just looks like it might have been but that makes sense

[BrumKev86]

Birmingham City Council missed a trick years ago by not investing in park-and-ride sites dotted around the middle ring road, ahead of demolishing city centre car parks. We now have the ridiculous situation where the two remaining multi-storey car parks at the Bullring and Moor Street are regularly full on Saturdays, and because they are located on a main entry and exit point for buses to/from Moor Street Queensway, the resulting congestion from drivers queuing to get into these car parks causes the buses to also get stuck and delayed.

I agree I think Birmingham missed a trick by not introducing Bus park and rides. I think it would definitely ease congestion if it were set up right, with the right service and cost. Down here in Bristol, there's four park and rides. Stagecoach run services from Portway and Brisington Park and ride, whilst Metrobus( run by First WOE) operate from Long Ashton and Lyde Green. All four of them are well located not far from motorways and are only £4 return with free parking. I do wonder what it would be like without them. Parking is £3.50 an hour in alot of city centre car parks.

There needs to be a thought about tourists that visit Birmingham and the West Midlands that don't want the hassle of driving in a busy city and trying to find parking. Having a bus park and ride could attract more people to the region hence boosting the local economy and long term it would improve the inner city congestion. Surely the new mayor should look at it. 

[PhageyMcPhage]

I agree I think Birmingham missed a trick by not introducing Bus park and rides. I think it would definitely ease congestion if it were set up right, with the right service and cost. Down here in Bristol, there's four park and rides. Stagecoach run services from Portway and Brisington Park and ride, whilst Metrobus( run by First WOE) operate from Long Ashton and Lyde Green. All four of them are well located not far from motorways and are only £4 return with free parking. I do wonder what it would be like without them. Parking is £3.50 an hour in alot of city centre car parks.

There needs to be a thought about tourists that visit Birmingham and the West Midlands that don't want the hassle of driving in a busy city and trying to find parking. Having a bus park and ride could attract more people to the region hence boosting the local economy and long term it would improve the inner city congestion. Surely the new mayor should look at it.

As you've said parking is expensive in Bristol. Most Birmingham car parks are not that expensive. 4 hours at Snow Hill is £6.60. P&R is successful in cities with a lot of tourism, where it is difficult to drive into and where city centre parking is difficult and expensive. At most times of day it is easy to drive into Birmingham. If parking policy changed then it might tip the balance. Really though people should be parking at home and getting the bus the whole way.

[Sh4318]

I agree I think Birmingham missed a trick by not introducing Bus park and rides. I think it would definitely ease congestion if it were set up right, with the right service and cost. Down here in Bristol, there's four park and rides. Stagecoach run services from Portway and Brisington Park and ride, whilst Metrobus( run by First WOE) operate from Long Ashton and Lyde Green. All four of them are well located not far from motorways and are only £4 return with free parking. I do wonder what it would be like without them. Parking is £3.50 an hour in alot of city centre car parks.

There needs to be a thought about tourists that visit Birmingham and the West Midlands that don't want the hassle of driving in a busy city and trying to find parking. Having a bus park and ride could attract more people to the region hence boosting the local economy and long term it would improve the inner city congestion. Surely the new mayor should look at it.

I don't really know why they haven't to be honest. Similar systems have also been implemented in Leeds and Oxford successfully

[Kevin_Brum12]

He is only a couple of weeks into the job but I think Richard Parker is being rather disingenuous, given his appearance on the BBC One Midlands "Politics Show" this morning and this article on the BBC News website.

New mayor outlines bus reform plans

I do not see how you can have a franchising system, without the operators involved making a surplus in return.  The London regulated franchise system of course is operated by private companies who are in course in business to make a return on their capital employed.

The only way all of any "surplus" for West Midlands services can be reinvested entirely in the West Midlands and for the customer is for everything to be owned by WMCA, including buses, drivers, garages and operational staff...but that is not franchising as in London or the model being put in place in Manchester. (TfL own some assets like the Borismaster buses and lease them, but not all Londons vehicles and garages)

Parker needs to show his working and explain the incentive for companies like Metroline, Transdev, Transport UK Group, Wellglade and others to come into the West Midlands and break the effective Mobico (formerly NX Group) monopoly on local bus services in the conurbation.  Plus demonstrate what would be in it for Mobico for their Leadership Team to continue in operating buses in the West Midlands....rather than walking away to put their money elsewhere leaving Parker having to take everything over to keep the wheels turning. I suspect that would cost rather more than £75 million and the current Government will not help him if the decision was taken before the upcoming General Election.


It is also revealing that TfWM have done so little to prepare a plan. It is almost as if they'd not expected Parker to win the Mayoral vote. "A dereliction of duty" from them I think and that is being kind at best.

[the trainbasher]

It is also revealing that TfWM have done so little to prepare a plan. It is almost as if they'd not expected Parker to win the Mayoral vote. "A dereliction of duty" from them I think and that is being kind at best.

A plan is set to be put to the WMCA board


https://governance.wmca.org.uk/documents/g1178/Public%20reports%20pack%2018th-Mar-2024%2013.00%20Transport%20Delivery%20Overview%20Scrutiny%20Committee.pdf?T=10    ---   page 57 for reference, Agenda item 10.

[Kevin_Brum12]

Birmingham City Council missed a trick years ago by not investing in park-and-ride sites dotted around the middle ring road, ahead of demolishing city centre car parks. We now have the ridiculous situation where the two remaining multi-storey car parks at the Bullring and Moor Street are regularly full on Saturdays, and because they are located on a main entry and exit point for buses to/from Moor Street Queensway, the resulting congestion from drivers queuing to get into these car parks causes the buses to also get stuck and delayed.

That dates from decades earlier and the old West Midlands County Council which was the transport authority as a starter for ten. They took the decision to use rail based Park and Ride sites, but make them free. The issue is that the sites along the likes of the Cross City at stations such as Four Oaks and Selly Oak are being filled up by people driving to a station from outside the West Midlands County to dump their car there and take advantage of the higher frequency rail service in the West Midlands County (thats why trains reverse at Stourbridge Junction and Shirley)...rather than the less frequent rail services to places in the wider region, where you pay more in fares and to park.

The West Midlands County Council were also responsible for the Middle Ring Road and the 40mph limit, it was started by Birmingham City Council but a sizeable chunk was built by WMCC in the 70's with the last portion finally being finished after the County Council was abolished and the buses deregulated and privatised. That was the opportunity to build multi story car parks and establish a bus based Park and Ride system for the city centre, but the land along the Ring Road went for other uses so was an "opportunity cost" when Birmingham City Council and the developers started the plans to replace the 1960's Bull Ring Centre and car parks and break the concrete collar  Inner Ring Road in the mid 1980's.

We are now living with the consequences of decisions made in the 1970's snd 1980's. People living in the 2060's will live with the transport and planning decisions made today by the Government, the Mayors and councils.

[Kevin_Brum12]

A plan is set to be put to the WMCA board


https://governance.wmca.org.uk/documents/g1178/Public%20reports%20pack%2018th-Mar-2024%2013.00%20Transport%20Delivery%20Overview%20Scrutiny%20Committee.pdf?T=10    ---  page 57 for reference, Agenda item 10.

But after the Mayoral Election, not before.  The national government have to have a plan based on all the manifestos from the parties likely to form a Government and have it ready for the get go following the election.  That is why Civil Servants are in discussions with the parties now, before a General Election.  It was clear well before the election that Parker planned franchising but Street proposed an enhanced  partnership.  As Dudley, Walsall and Solihull are controlled by the sConservatives and have a good portion of the services that may disappear in the "Network Transformation", I expect the plan will have a rocky gestation and that will be a challenging meeting...