Merry Xmas & a Happy New Year from PushBikes

And a busy New's Year's campaigning coming up.

The evidence on the ground provided by the Selly Oak bypass, Longbridge juction & Lordwood Rd/Hagley road junctions shows that the highwaymen put a low value the safety & convenience of cyclists & pedestrains suggests we'll need all our members help to promote people friendly travel in Birmingham 2012.

But it's not all bad, as detailed below we've had some recent sucesses.

Icknield Port Loop regeneration

The project covers 65 acres a mile from the city centre. The proposals include between 3,000 and 4,000 homes and a million square feet of commercial space.

PushBikes has submitted comments on the planning application - click to view - and contacted the Ladywood councillors

Special Public Meeting Saturday 7th January

Following our submission, PushBikes has been invited to this meeting in Ladywood and we'll be circulating information about our proposals.

The Icknield Port Loop development is quite important for Ladywood councillors because they hope to have a new secondary school built inside the development, with sports facilities that will include a swimming pool for public use. This would be the only secondary school in Ladywood ward.

This is a real opportunity to have an impact: getting a good turnout of cyclists, especially PushBikes' members resident in Ladywood will show that there is a public demand for fair consideration of pedestrians & cyclists.

If you're thinking of coming or have any suggestions or questions, please email us.

View details, including a map, of PushBikes' comments here.

John Pitcock: Silly signs on Route 5

John Pitcock - a founding member of PushBikes - has been campaigning about the confusing "no cycling" signs on the road section of NCR 5 along Kitchener and Cecil Roads south of Cannon Hill Park. The Birmingham Mail did an article on the campaign - read it here.

The "no cycling sign" on Ripple Road Stirchley was finally taken down a few weeks ago. Councillor Timothy Huxtable has responded: "I would like to work together with Push Bikes to help resolve this issue."

Battery Way/Weston Lane junction signage

After three years of campaigning and a near KSI a "cyclists crossing" sign has been erected!