Equitable cycling scheme gets funding boost ahead of Commonwealth Games

The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has received a £2 million (US$2.78 million) funding boost from the Department for Transport as part of efforts to get more people from disadvantaged communities cycling.

The Cycling for Everyone scheme aims to encourage and enable more people to get on a bike, and is scheduled to be up and running by next summer when Birmingham hosts the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Cllr Ian Ward, WMCA portfolio holder for Transport and Leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “When Birmingham was awarded the Commonwealth Games, we wanted to ensure it would have a positive impact on all communities. This is even more important now as we emerge from the pandemic which has hit some communities harder than others.

Addressing cycling barriers

“Cycling for Everyone is one example of how we can do that by getting people involved who may not otherwise be able to cycle – either due to the cost or because they have no one around to support and guide them.”

Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), which is part of the WMCA, will work with partners to develop projects and activities, including: cycle training and guided rides; community hubs or clubs; free or subsidised bikes; and travel support for businesses, schools and communities.

The scheme will be linked to the broader Birmingham 2022 Physical Activity & Wellbeing legacy.

Through its #WM2041 campaign, the region has set out a plan to achieve a net-zero carbon region over the next 20 years.

TfWM and local authority partners are currently investing £40 million in active travel – cycling and walking – taking spending to more than £10 per head for the first time last year.

This involves the development of safe cycle routes, expanding the West Midlands Cycle Hire scheme, and many smaller-scale community projects.

MaaS project

Last week the WMCA published a notice on the UK government’s tender portal looking for partners for a mobility-as-a-service (MaaS) application project.

According to the notice, WMCA wants to “provide a step-change improvement in the customer experience for planning, booking and paying for travel using sustainable modes of transport in the West Midlands” while allowing TfWM and transport operators in the region to capture more information and insights about the way that people travel in the region.

Image: TfWM