wellness
Birmingham Adds 12 New Family-Friendly Cycling Routes Across City Parks
New marked paths in city parks draw families seeking low-traffic options this summer.
How we reported this
Birmingham City Council marked three new family cycling loops in June 2026, each under three miles and separated from motor traffic by bollards and signage.
Wellness groups in the city have tracked rising demand for beginner routes since the council’s 2025 active travel report showed 22 percent of local households own at least one bicycle yet only 11 percent use them weekly. Parents cite safety concerns on main roads as the main barrier, pushing demand toward enclosed park circuits instead.
Cannon Hill Park now offers a 2.4-mile loop that starts at the Pershore Road entrance and circles the boating lake before returning through the arboretum. Sutton Park added a 1.8-mile beginner track last month that runs from the Boldmere Gate along the western edge of Keeper’s Pool and finishes at the visitor centre café. Both sites belong to the council’s Parks for People programme, which supplies free helmet loan stations and printed route maps at each entrance.
Equipment and costs
The council’s partnership with local bike shop Cycle Birmingham provides child seats and tag-along trailers for £4 per day at the Cannon Hill kiosk. A 2025 survey by the West Midlands Combined Authority recorded 4,800 family rides logged on the new Sutton Park track in its first three months. Sessions run every Saturday morning at 10 a.m., led by volunteers from the Birmingham Cycling Club.
Beginners should start on weekday mornings when paths are quietest, carry water, and check the council website for any temporary closures due to maintenance. Maps and updated opening times appear on the Birmingham.gov.uk active travel page.