{"id":7295,"date":"2020-01-24T07:00:39","date_gmt":"2020-01-24T07:00:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/discerningcyclist.com\/?p=7295"},"modified":"2023-02-14T13:40:51","modified_gmt":"2023-02-14T13:40:51","slug":"cycling-in-birmingham-bike-hire-shops-routes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/discerningcyclist.com\/cycling-in-birmingham-bike-hire-shops-routes\/","title":{"rendered":"A Guide to Cycling in Birmingham: Bike Hire, Cycling Routes + Where to Lock Your Bike"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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It’s the second-biggest country in England after London, with more than 1 million residents. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So surely there’s enough space in Birmingham for plenty of great cycle paths, bike shops and places to store your bicycle when not riding? Let’s explore\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n

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Birmingham Cycling Statistics<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In actual fact, the busier, more congested UK cities can be the worst place imaginable for a keen cyclist, primarily through the lack of accessibility and adequate provision. In that regard, Birmingham’s cycling infrastructure is, perhaps unsurprisingly, considered among the worst in the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A 2015 study published by Toothpick ranked all of the UK’s cities and towns based on how \u2018bike-friendly’ they are, based on data from the Ministry of Transport and Sport England about the number of people cycling at least once a week in each place. Cities were ordered according to criteria including their own cycling culture, safety, and how well it accommodates cyclists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this study, Birmingham was given a feeble mark of 1,5\/10, based on this annual survey data from the Department for Transport. So, if you are planning to take your two wheels out for a spin across the city, perhaps don’t expect the smoothest of rides, although there are always ways to reduce the chances of having a bicycle accident<\/a> that you certainly don’t want.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cycle Paths in Birmingham<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Even though the city may not be the best-equipped in the country for cyclists, Birmingham still has a number of great paths for you to take your bike<\/a> out for a spin on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Central Birmingham Canal Ring, for instance, allows you to take in many of the city’s most renowned sights on its route from the Barclaycard Arena, and then along the signposted Birmingham and Fazeley Canal route. A particularly great ride for families, you’ll pass such attractions as the BT tower, Farmers Bridge Locks and Ashtead Tunnel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Or if you’re a tourist visiting Birmingham, why not head along River Rea towards the Worcester and Birmingham Canal? Again, you’ll pass plenty of iconic venues like Edgbaston Cricket Ground, Cadbury World and the city’s university.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And for the keen historians, you could hardly pick a better trail than along the Telford Canal up to Galton Valley, which encompasses some of the oldest canal locks in the UK \u2013 although note, the road sections are likely to be only suitable for competent cyclists at least.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Birmingham Bike Hire<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Brompton Bike Hire operates in Birmingham, as it does in many UK cities. You can reserve a bay hire one of their foldable bicycles from as little as \u00a33.50 a day from one of their five docks across the city centre, and then simply return it to any public dock when finished with it. Birmingham’s five docks are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n