Besides wands – narrow bollards – the cycle lane is also segregated through several short so-called ‘orca kerbs’ made of rubber that deter vehicles from crossing the lane.<\/p>\n
However, the kerbs used in Solihull are sparsely placed out, enabling vehicles to cross over into the cycle lane without hitting the attached bollard. The cycle lane is also intersected by so-called ‘floating bus stops’ along the route.<\/p>\n
>\u00a0Pensioner left with broken wrist and black eye after tripping over cycle lane separator<\/a><\/p>\n At a recent council meeting, Reform UK Cllr Samantha Gethen said\u00a0\u201cThe orcas and wands are a bit dangerous \u2013 we have had residents fall over the orcas.<\/p>\n “Everyone I speak to says it looks unsightly so a kerb is the best option,”\u00a0Gethen added,\u00a0as<\/a> reported by Birmingham Live’s<\/a> Local Democracy Reporter.<\/p>\n Liberal Democrat councillor Kathryn Thomas added “I do know we haven\u2019t won hearts and minds on this. A lot of it is the changes we have made to the bus stops \u2013 this strategy of now having buses stop in the road.”<\/p>\n But, defending the new infrastructure, Thomas added\u00a0\u201cpeople don\u2019t understand even if they get rid of the cycle route you are still going to have the buses stopping in the road.<\/p>\n \u201cIt serves schools, the college \u2013 young people are more likely to cycle. If it saves the life of a child then it is worth it.\u201d<\/p>\n At the meeting to discuss alternative arrangements, it was revealed that funding from central government and Transport for West Midlands – the region-wide public transport authority – would be available to replace the orcas with a permanent kerb fully segregating the cycle lane from the road traffic. The installation would cost \u00a3498,204 and would be installed by March 2027 pending resident consultation.<\/p>\n However, local residents reacted angrily on Facebook to the proposed investment, with more than 100 mostly negative commenters describing the decision as “a waste of taxpayer’s money” on a cycle lane they feel is rarely used.<\/p>\n “A\u00a041% increase but what was the original number? 5 or even 10 maybe. Stats can be used whichever way they want. 100% of nothing is still nothing,” wrote Dee King.<\/p>\n “Wow in such difficult financial times surely nearly half a million pounds can be put to better use\u2026” added Lucy Harris.<\/p>\n Solihull Cycling Club’s Racing Coordinator\u00a0meanwhile chose to stir up the debate. “Scrap the cycle lane and make it 20mph with avg speed cameras\u00a0\ud83d\udc4d” David Fellows\u00a0typed.<\/p>\n At the time of the lane’s initial installation the West Midlands’ then\u00a0Cycling and Walking Commissioner, Adam Tranter, responded to criticism<\/a> of the\u00a0infrastructure by saying “In truth \u2014\u00a0experienced cyclists who are cycling faster speeds, are more confident or are riding in groups, may prefer to continue to use the road, which is their right and totally acceptable under the Highway Code.”<\/p>\n The council’s Conservative Cabinet member for Environment and Infrastructure, Cllr Ken Hawkins at the time defended the weaker infrastructure, saying it\u00a0“ensured that [the road space]\u00a0can be used flexibly in case of emergencies.”<\/p>\n However, in the council meeting on Monday, Hawkins said\u00a0\u201cWith this funding we have never hidden from what we want \u2013 a proper segregated route with kerbing to give greater safety for active travel users.<\/p>\n![\"Blossomfield](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/screenshot-2025-11-05-113315.png\" "\\"Blossomfield")
Blossomfield Road, Solihull (credit: Google Maps Street View)<\/p>\n