Connectivity
Birmingham transformed itself in the 1950s and 1960s from a traditional city of streets into the 'motor city'.
A new inner road, later named Queensway, was built forming a tight concrete collar around the city's core; and the ring road, Middleway, was constructed further out as a route around the wider centre.
These big pieces of transport infrastructure have resulted in a city centre that is easy to access by car, but not so easy to move around by other modes of transport, including walking and cycling.
Already great improvements have been made, with parts of the concrete collar being dismantled, but much more is needed if walking, cycling and taking the bus are to become genuinely attractive modes of transport in the city centre.
New and improved pedestrian crossings and cycle facilities, better information, greater levels of pedestrian and cycle priority in key locations and the removal of key barriers all need to form part of the picture.
