Experimental Red Route parking restrictions on two of Birmingham's busiest commuter routes are to be made permanent.
City Council cabinet transportation member Len Gregory said the 18-month pilot schemes along the A34 Stratford Road and Walsall Road led to faster journey times and fewer accidents involving vehicles and pedestrians.
Serious injuries were down by 30 per cent on both routes while slight injuries were down by eight per cent, Coun Gregory (Con Billesley) said.
On the Stratford Road, according to council monitoring, reduced congestion has resulted in more people using buses with faster journey times in and out of the city centre.
The decision to make the experiments permanent will not please traders along the Stratford Road, particularly in the Balti Belt, who complained that the zero-tolerance approach to kerbside parking meant that customers were staying away and takings were down.
The Stratford Road Business Association said its members' livelihoods were being "crushed" because the scheme had been introduced without adequate consultation and alternative parking arrangements.
Coun Gregory said the traders' concerns had been addressed by the provision of 202 additional parking spaces and 40 delivery spaces.
He added: "Monitoring of the pilot projects on both routes has shown many benefits, not just in eradicating gridlock along the city's busiest arterial routes, but in reducing accidents and improving journey times.
"The city's transportation scrutiny committee also concluded, by a majority view, that the pilot Red Route on the Stratford Road had proved to be of significant benefit in improving traffic flow, and commuters too have expressed their support for the scheme via letters to the local media.
"Having listened carefully to all views, and examined the detailed evidence presented to me, I have concluded that the pilot schemes should be made permanent."
He wanted an ongoing dialogue with traders and the general public "in order to listen to any specific requests for consideration of possible changes that would enhance the working of the schemes whilst providing value for money".
Both schemes were approved in 2003 as part of a package of measures being implemented to tackle congestion across the West Midlands.
Further Red Routes are likely to follow in Birmingham and other cities across the region.
A council spokeswoman said extensive consultation had taken place with the public, local councillors, traders and other organisations during the past 18 months.
She added: "Their views were listened to resulting in many changes to the original design. For example, a total of 202 additional parking spaces and 40 loading spaces for deliveries were provided in the Stratford Road area."
