Brunswick Street continues to be transformed into a new landscaped, pedestrianised and cycle friendly space, Brunswick Park, that complements TfGM’s Oxford Road Bus Priority scheme, encouraging public transport and cycle use.

Whilst completion is planned for May 2018, the start of the new academic year in September presents the University with a number of safety challenges to ensure that access is maintained to surrounding buildings for large numbers of returning staff and students. The access routes through and around the periphery of the park are currently constrained by the construction works, and therefore make it very difficult for cyclists and pedestrians to share the same space.

As a consequence, the Directorate of Estates and Facilities are actively discouraging cyclists to cycle through and around the periphery of Brunswick Park. ‘Cyclists Dismount’ signage will be placed at strategic access points to the park area, and cyclists are encouraged to walk their bikes to a cycle parking location, or shelter, close to the building that is their destination. To help matters further, they ask that cyclists do not use Brunswick Park as a through route to other locations on campus. Building and wayfinding signage will be erected around the park to help pedestrians/cyclists reach their destination.

The Directorate of Estates and Facilities are therefore seeking the patience and co-operation of the University’s cycling fraternity, to bear with them, for what will be a challenging start to the academic year.

During the course of the next few months, the contractor will be handing back to the University sections of the completed park, as progress is made towards completion, which should gradually relieve some of the pressure on space for pedestrians/cyclists to safely move around and between buildings in this locality.