Cycle route would increase congestion

DEAR Editor, Regarding the proposed cycle route for the Bristol Road in Birmingham, as a resident of this road with two young children, the traffic levels and emissions concern me greatly.

Every day I hear the traffic idling outside for a long periods. I worry as I hear ambulances from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital blaring their sirens as drivers try to move but there is no where to go.

The idea to make the city “less congested, greener, safer and healthier” seems great but I do not believe the proposed route will achieve any of those aims.

I fear it will make them all worse by preventing turning at the Priory Road and putting in more traffic lights.

I do think a cycle route for cyclists to use safely is a brilliant idea but there’s plenty of space on the Bristol Road’s wide pavements for one each side to match the flow of traffic which would also cost significantly less.

The proposed route will make vehicles drive further distances and funnel more traffic toward the city centre by closing off other routes, thus increasing pollution and congestion.

It will destroy 19 mature tress that are filtering CO2 and providing oxygen and it will delay ambulances getting to people even more. How is any of that an improvement?

Libby Edge, By email