Nl 107 Summer 09.Pub
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
CyclistBIRMINGHAM The newsletter for Birmingham leaps into action: cyclists’ meeting on 22 October! see p.3 Issue 107. Summer 2009 www.pushbikes.org.uk Getting Birmingham in the saddle If you would like to help View from the Chair make the news- letter happen, Undoubtedly most significant this please contact summer has been the increase in Push Bikes’ membership. Thanks to any of the prodigious efforts by members of the Newsletter committee who manned stands at team. Bike Week events in parks and on High Street, 38 new members were recruited. Why is this so significant? Copyright 2009 Because numbers count! Push Push Bikes, Bikes is a well respected and recog- The Birming- nised campaigning body, but it can’t ham Area Cy- be said to represent the cross sec- cling Cam- tion of cyclists in Birmingham until we have a big enough and broad paign. enough base of membership across the city. We are currently less than 300 but need more to exert a No part of this greater influence on the council and newsletter may other transport providers. For a city be reproduced of 1m people, our target should be Push Bikes needs your help! without express at least 500 members. acknowledge- ment of the It always surprises me to come across regular, committed cyclists Reuse Cycle Bits copyright. who either are unaware of Push Bikes, or in some respects worse, know that we exist but haven’t be- Number 1 in a new series Views ex- come members. Our message still Ipods, itunes - what about itubes? Old inner pressed in this isn’t getting across: if cycling in Bir- tubes have multifarious uses either whole or newsletter do mingham is to become better and cut up. Left whole [with one cut] they make not necessarily safer Push Bikes NEEDS YOU!! straps to tie apple trees to posts or bikes to bike racks. reflect official They are secure when knotted yet easy to undo. Cut Push Bikes’ How do we persuade reluctant cy- transversely they make dozens of small elastic bands clists? I think that it depends firstly [ebands]. Cutting the tubes into elastic strips length- policy. on getting them to admit that facili- wise is easy. The manufacturers thoughtfully put longi- ties could and should be improved. tudinal ridges in the rubber - about 12mm apart. These Then that Push Bikes is likely to win help us cut neat strips. Use the strips for hookless Newsletter improvements as being the best way Team: Graham bungees e.g. on a rear rack. Make big ebands and of getting the ‘authorities’ to act. you don't need to collect those red ones left by post- Hankins, men. When packing roll your clothes and compact Michael Groll This shouldn’t prove too difficult: we them with a big band etc. have a history of achievement and a strong presence to put pressure Any more ideas for ex-bike parts? Send 'em in. Birmingham where required. Our subscriptions are modest, we provide useful ser- Cyclist has a Kate Fox readership of vices to members, and we don’t ask nearly 1000 members to be ‘active’ unless they want to. But, however well con- ACTION cyclists. We vinced of Push Bikes worthiness, offer competi- most potential members won’t de- POINTS tive advertising cide to join unless they are pre- rates. For more sented with a membership applica- information on tion form and asked to sign. ‘Closing the sale’ is the essential bit. advertising please contact: So, may I ask you to carry with you secretary the enclosed membership flyer This symbol indicates items where readers @pushbikes.or and when you meet a non-member, can take action such as writing or emailing g.uk just ask them to join by filling in the form and sending their subscription. I think you may be pleased to find that many will say ‘yes’. Thank you. The front cover picture shows a BMX rider at the Family John Bennett Cycle Day at Kingfisher Country Park on 20 June. www.pushbikes.org.uk Summer 2009 newsletter Page 2 Cyclists’ Meeting / Birmingham News Connect2 – North Birmingham Route: in June Sustrans and Birmingham City Council signed the How would YOU improve cycling in memorandum of understanding Birmingham? which enables work to start in earnest. A consultation docu- Cyclists’ Meeting 2009 ment for first section between New Hall Valley Country Park Banqueting Suite, Council House, Thursday nd and Pype Hayes Park, can be October 22 2009, 7pm. viewed at: www.connect2birmingham.org/ I am sure all of us have answers to this ques- publicconsultations tion, so to follow on from last year’s very suc- cessful event and to celebrate Push Bikes’ th Cole Valley: Three–year delivery programme. 30 anniversary, we have arranged a meet- New bridge to be designed. ing at the Council House this time! Principal council officers, guest speakers and refresh- Harborne Walkway: Many improvements com- ments, come along and tell them what mat- pleted but one section is still muddy. Further S106 ters to you about cycling in Birmingham. We monies will be available. still have the list of issues highlighted on the map from last year: have any of them been River Tame Way: Environment Agency keen to addressed? re-establish route. • Do you have a problem with a path or Cannon Hill Park resurfacing: Improvements roundabout? are needed as this will be part of the World half- • A hazardous crossing? marathon route. Discussions taking place with • Could you suggest a better route? Parks and Highways Maintenance. Push Bikes asked about the ‘segregated’ cycle lane running Ask the council tonight! We never forget – through the park – would it be re-marked or re- make sure the council doesn’t either! moved and the entire path designated as shared use? BCC responded that it was likely to become This is your opportunity to get your voice Shared Use, as the segregation was largely ig- heard! nored anyway. Hagley Road/Lordswood Road traffic light tim- ings: The inter-green time was too short for cy- clists to cross safely. A study has been made and Cycling Strategy: Birmingham City Council (BCC) Traffic Management will be asked to consider re- is writing an updated Cycling Strategy. Yes, this is timings at this junction. the strategy that was mentioned back in January and was to be launched in March, but certain key Belgrave Middleway crossing: Recent traffic officers had been unavailable. The task had now count has indicated c. 300 vehicles a day using been passed back to Graham Lennard, Travelwise the bus lane to cross over this junction. Ongoing. Team Leader, who had identified several amend- BCC was waiting for the police camera monitoring ments he wished to incorporate, one of these was report. to put sports cycling into a distinct section. The strategy is now expected to be lauched around De- Hagley Road parallel route: A feasibility study cember. has been made, many issues to be addressed, consultation with ‘stakeholders’ (yes, this includes Cycling Coordination Group: BCC is developing Push Bikes) to take place during September. an internal Cycling Coordination Group. This will pool funding, resources, web development, data- Rea Valley Route: solar-powered road studs to bases, ideas and oversee the implementation of indicate the direction of the path coloured are be- the Cycling Strategy. ing installed. Graham Hankins Summer 2009 newsletter Page 3 www.pushbikes.org.uk Designing for Cyclists Birmingham News The Cyclists Dismount Sign Edgbaston tunnel resurfaced The Department for British Waterways has made some improvements Transport published to the severely rough surface in this 95 metre tun- Cycle Infrastructure nel on the Worcester and Birmingham Canal (see Design in October photographs below). Unfortunately the relaid gravel 2008, a guidance is still uneven and is made worse because several document for highway lights are not illuminated. We understand that light- engineers and plan- ing is the responsibility of the City Council who ners. We intend pub- needs to hire a barge to get access to the light fit- lishing extracts that tings. Does life have to be so complicated? Could- may interest Push n’t the lights be made accessible from the towpath? Bikes members and help in understanding the departmental pol- icy. The complete document is available at: www.dft.gov.uk/ cyclinginfrastructuredesign “The CYCLISTS DISMOUNT sign is another over- used sign. On a well designed cycle facility, it is very rarely appropriate. The sign is possibly the least fa- voured among cyclists – each time it is used, it represents a discontinuity in the journey, which is highly disruptive. In general, the sign should only be used in relatively rare situations where it would be unsafe or impracticable for a cyclist to continue rid- ing. If it looks as if the sign might be needed, practitio- ners should first check to see whether the scheme Canal towpath before resurfacing design could not first be modified to make its use unnecessary. In general, the sign should not be used where a cycle track joins a carriageway di- rectly”. Cyclists dismount sign on the Selly Oak Bypass: is this really necessary? Canal towpath after resurfacing John Bennett www.pushbikes.org.uk Summer 2009 newsletter Page 4 Bike Week in Birmingham Birmingham News A41 Warwick Road could become a Smart Route The Warwick Road from Sparkhill through to Solihull, could be designated as a ‘Smart Route’ combining Red Route, Bus Showcase and congestion improving meas- ures. Birmingham and Solihull councils together with Centro are undertaking consultation to decide on what improvements should be made along this important cor- ridor. Under consideration are: • Traffic congestion • Improving journey times and reliability • Enhanced road safety • Improved pedestrian facilities • Improved urban environment • Improved accessibility by sustainable modes and public transport The Push Bikes’ team getting the message out The project includes the neighbourhoods on either side During Bike Week in June, Birmingham City Council’s of the road, shopping and other local activities, as well Leisure Services Department organised Family Cycle as the use of the Grand Union canal.