11C: Ward End

Continuing the journey on Birmingham's 11C Outer Circle...

Reboarding, the women in front of me continues her mobile conversation as if the driver wasn’t there. Crooking the phone between neck & shoulder, she fumbles for change for the hopper.

Then, the 11C marches on through relentless urbanisation, as the bus goes everywhere yet nowhere, a perpetual conveyor belt spinning round.

The 11C crosses the Birmingham & Fazakerley canal at Heartlands. Passengers witness sheds, warehouses, industry, brownfield dereliction and strange, modular, pre-cast concrete structures prophetically labelled ‘Waycon’.

The 11C is said to pass 49 pubs. The substantial one here is now a Chinese. We also pass a rare high occupancy vehicle lane.

As we approach Ward End, there’s more evidence of just why local suburban shopping is struggling: Tesco is building yet another store. At least that’s accessible via the 11C.