To celebrate ‘In Town Without My Car Day’ on 22 September, Birmingham
Friends of the Earth, Sustrans and Push Bikes are organising ‘Bike Trains’
along 5 routes into Birmingham. Everyone is welcome whatever their cycling
ability – and the bigger it is, the better it will work.
These Bike Trains are led rides where people cycle in a group to be more
visible and for more experienced riders to help the less experienced ones
find the best way into the city centre.
They aim to create a friendly ‘safety in numbers’ space on the road to enable more people to commute by
bike. They don’t intend to hold up other road users. They do intend to be an
assertive presence on the road – taking up one lane – no more. There will be
a cyclists’ breakfast at the end of the route in Victoria Square to
celebrate World Car Free Day and if it is successful, they hope to make it a
regular event.
To join in, please sign up on the Birmingham Friends of the Earth website.
You can also read more information about the event and see maps of the routes on
their website and read about the reasons for cycling to work on their blog.
The bike trains will go to the city centre along radial routes from Quinton, Sutton Coldfield, Fox Hollies, Kings Heath and Cotteridge stopping at “stations” along the way to pick up more cyclists.
