Dear Karen - I am being positive, constructive and helpful, here. And, saving you money to go towards something much more worthwhile. Honest!!
No need, at all to encourage active travel on a new shared footway alongside A456/Manor Way!
You do not need to change anything, apart from possibly putting in the Toucan crossing at Chadbury Road. The crossing is needed to encourage bus use by allowing access to Chadbury Road from the westbound bus stop near the HAAC. It would encourage some users of the HAAC to walk or cycle into the club, too instead of driving.
Please, Karen you need to save the money to urgently upgrade the major, strategic, 22 Kms Black Country Cycle-Walk Mudway to NW Wolverhampton via Wombourne. Most of the Dudley section is in a disgraceful condition.
I have cycled into Brum for four decades but have NEVER needed to use Manor Way because there are brilliant, alternative cycling routes via pleasant residential roads to the north, on the Halesowen side to Carters Lane. I cross the A456 on the Carters Lane road bridge and then use the superb traffic-free walking/cycling route for SIX MILES into Brum centre from Carters Lane/Watery Lane! Please try it yourself, with Les. I do use the footways from the east end of Dog Kennel Lane to get to Chadbury Road. But that section can only be widened from Woodbury Close public right of way to Chadbury Road. It is short and cyclists have to watch out for walkers, give way to them and, give a verbal warning of their approach. Even my own family used it on my recommendation - and that was quite a victory, I can tell you!
The very few cyclists do not warrant destroying a wooded/shrub nature reserve that is a welcome barrier from the noisy traffic fumed bypass/Manor Way. No need to destroy nature of which we are part!
Cyclists must be kept cycling, definitely but should be encouraged to find more pleasant and safer, low-trafficked routes via the side roads, even if it does take them longer. It did take longer for me cycling to work in Brum - every day - but it was great keeping very nearly entirely off Manor Way, except for the very short Grange roundabout section - when I use the footway, still!
Have I convinced you and Les over this - when I so miserably failed over the very fine Dudley Railway needing TRAINS and stations? I am even willing to show you both if we all got our bikes out!
Best wishes
Tim
