Birmingham City Council (BCC) currently has several active Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) in place within the city. The implementation of these PSPOs has been evidence-based and introduced following public consultation.
PSPOs have been successful in dealing with anti-social behaviour, provided additional options to officers for enforcement and reduced previous resource-intensive interventions and operations.
Over several years, there has been an increase in food, letter and parcel couriers utilising e-cycles, other cycles and load-bearing carriers to move around the city centre at speed. BCC has also encouraged more general cycling as a sustainable approach to moving around the city for health and environmental benefits. This has led to the reporting of incidents of near misses and collisions in high-footfall areas. As a result, consideration was given to the implementation of a PSPO to cover issues of anti-social behaviour related to dangerous cycling.
A public consultation exercise took place between the 20th of December 2024 and the 31st of January 2025. Consultation methods included an online consultation using BCC’s BeHeard website along with public engagement exercises.
The results of the public consultation suggest that the introduction of a PSPO for the restrictions detailed in section 4.7 at this current time is not appropriate. The findings (Appendix C) and extended examination (Appendix D – D1G) indicate that the view that there is already legislation in place to tackle the issues raised, and enforcement of this legislation should be considered before implementing a PSPO. Views have also been expressed that negative impacts are more likely to be related to e-bikes, e-scooters etc. rather than non-motorised forms of transport.
The consultation received mixed responses; however, overall, the consensus suggested that a PSPO with the stipulated restrictions was not appropriate. 61% of respondents felt that a PSPO was not the correct tool to deal with the issues, while a further 65% of respondents felt that the zonal areas for the restrictions were incorrect.
Additional concerns from the consultation related to issues regarding how the restrictions would be enforced, unclear and subjective wording within the restrictions and the inclusion of legislation such as the Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations, which may lead to disproportionate limitations in the restrictions.
Officers have considered this feedback and alternative options for dealing with the negative impacts of cycling and other propelled transport within the city centre. Officers have concluded that a PSPO is not the appropriate intervention at this time.
Other options such as the enforcement of current available legislative restrictions should first be explored. Currently, West Midland Police are engaging in Operation Frislen, which is a city centre-based operation that is looking at safety and compliance issues with e-bikes and e-scooters. So far 23 e-bikes have been seized, and three arrests have been made. Following a third enforcement day, Operation Frislen will continue to tackle e-Bike riders locally within the Neighbourhood Teams.