Cycle to the City Centre?

If you have previously rejected the idea of cycling into the centre of Birmingham, you are invited to join a "Bike Train" on Thursday Sep. 22nd to find out the advantages, and pleasures, of cycling - compared to driving and to taking a bus.

See map of the routes starting in Cotteridge, Fox Hollies, Kings Heath (Cocks Moors Woods), Quinton and Sutton Coldfield.

If you are already aware of the advantages and pleasures, you are invited to join the "Train" to give support, both moral and physical, to less experienced cyclists. To date, fewer experienced cyclists have joined the Fox Hollies route than the other four routes - so please consider joining Graham Hankins and others at the Fox Hollies Leisure Centre on Shirley Road.

The rides start at 07:30 to give people time to have a sociable breakfast, in front of the Council House in Victoria Square (hosted by the Council) before going to work, to the shops, to the Library, or wherever you like.

Why should you join the ride? Some good reasons are listed here.

Register online here.

The event is organised by Birmingham Friends of the Earth, Sustrans and Push Bikes to celebrate In Town Without My Car Day on 22nd September. ITWMC is European Union campaign for an increased use of other vehicles than the car. It has spread beyond the EU and, in 2008, 102 municipalities in 39 countries took part - no figures available for more recent events.

Download Bike Birmingham, Birmingham's Cycling Strategy 2011-2015, read about Birmingham City Council's new commitment to encourage more people to cycle more often, and try cycling yourself!

If you need advice or more encouragement, get in touch with Joe Peacock at Friends of the Earth (joe @birminghamfoe.org.uk), Yvonne Gilligan at Sustrans (yvonne.gilligan @sustrans.org.uk) or Graham Hankins at Pushbikes (g8emx @tiscali.co.uk) or contact me - Esther Boyd - at SusMo (sustainablemoseley @gmail.com).

I'm looking forward to the ride and to meeting lots of people at in Victoria Square for (my second) breakfast!