Today, 30 organisations and public figures have written to
@RichParkerLab
@MayorWestMids
, urging him to commit to keeping the Cycling and Walking Commissioner role.
Across the UK, someone is killed or injured on our roads every 16 minutes. Join the national day of action on Saturday 30 September 2023. Find out more:
.
@MailOnline
Please can you report on the number of deaths and serious injuries on Birmingham’s roads this year? Then you might be able to see why these necessary pieces of infrastructure have been installed over the years?
We welcome this joint statement. However, the Police’s statement does not go far enough as it offers no action for change. Eight people’s lives have been seriously changed or ended in just four weeks.
Read our statement:
Working together to make our roads safer is a priority for us and our partners.
We’ve come together to issue a joint statement around the work we are already involved in across the region’s road and transport networks.
@WhitbyHarvey
The LTNs are primarily on the opposite side of the high street, the nearest filters on this side of the high street don’t divert through traffic down Institute Road. But thanks for chipping in. 🙂
It's important that this is investigated and not written off as an accident. A mother and child were extremely lucky to escape this entirely preventable incident uninjured.
It is a miracle that the mother and her child escaped serious injury in this incident in Solihull.
I am concerned that the driver has not been arrested and have asked the Police for more information.
If we are to reduce danger on our roads we need to learn from every collision.
Exciting report on
@BrumLeader
's ambitious plans for Birmingham...
..."making us as green as Vienna, and to double active travel routes to some 200km which will put us at the same level for cycle friendliness as Copenhagen."
💚🚲💚
Thank you to everyone who showed up for our demonstration today, demanding no more deaths or serious injuries on
#Birmingham
’s roads. We urgently need strategy to turn into infrastructure.
Kudos to
@WMPolice
for taking this dangerous driver off the road. But what sort of a justice system was ever going to let a man who killed someone at 101mph in a residential area back behind the wheel, and why has he still not lost his license for good?!
Every 94 seconds we found a motorist using their phone behind the wheel, just metres from where 12-year-old Azaan Khan was killed while crossing the A45.
Join us at 12pm this Sunday on the corner of Deakins Road - Coventry Road to show enough is enough.
Another joyful Kings Heath critical mass bike ride.
Thank you all who came along, and thank you for all who couldn't, but support our call for safer roads and sustainable modes of travel.
💚🚲💚
Saturday 17 June 4pm; come along to York Rd Kings Heath: the active travel critical mass; with Growing up Green 💚
A lovely family-friendly event.
We recognise it has been a tragic few weeks on our roads.
Cycling is still a wonderful way to travel around our great city.
This is what pavement parking does. People who really need pavements cannot use them. Yet the government has buried
@transportgovuk
’s response to the pavement parking consultation.
Today we have sent an open letter to
@CllrJohnCotton
,
@Cadman1Deborah
and members of the
@BhamCityCouncil
Management team to challenge them to bring all funded schemes forward to 2025, not 2027. Read the full letter on our website:
@LisaTrickett41
@garethjhooper
@David4BKH
@MoseleyHeathWMP
Totally agree.
“We speak of vulnerable road users, but they’ve only been vulnerable since the advent of fast traffic with big, heavy vehicles. Why don’t we call those fast, heavy vehicles dangerous road users?”
The demonstration today was in response to very recent tragic and wholly preventable incidents. There were strong emotions, as there should be.
The vast majority of people; attendees, passers by, and drivers, are united in our call for safer streets.
Road danger affects us all
Our thoughts are with everyone affected by yet another horiffic incident of violence on Birmingham's roads.
The danger posed by motor vehicles and the design of our roads can and must be removed.
#VisionZero
This is an old
#LTN
around Speedwell Rd in Balsall Heath.
The filter has been recently replaced, however the design now blocks cycling.
Any idea who designed and signed this off
@LizClements
?
It's contrary to
#BrumTransportPlan
to spend money on new barriers to cycling.
@adamtranter
@andy4wm
Thanks for all your work, Adam. You’ve achieved a lot during your time as commissioner.
We’ll be writing to Parker on Tuesday to set out the case for the role and seeking a commitment to retain it.
Community groups can co-sign the letter and should get in touch by DM or email.
Our group is growing in membership and scope. Our original focus on LTNs in Kings Heath has widened to campaign for better active travel and public transport across the city; we hope this is captured by our new mission statement and vision.
Looking forward to 2022!
It was great to meet
@BrumLeader
@LizClements
and senior officers yesterday. We’re delighted that the Council will reduce the speed limit across the city by the end of the year, as well as make progress on tripling the number of average speed cameras in the city.
RIP to the person just trying to go about their life. Killed by a coward, thoughtlessly driving and running away. This is not normal. Turn the tide now.
This incident has left us speechless.
We won’t retweet the video.
Our thoughts are with the many families and community that this utterly reckless driver has so carelessly ripped apart.
#ALERT
| We're currently dealing with a traffic incident on Soho Road and the road is blocked near its junction with Holliday Road.
Please find alternative routes as the road is expected to remain closed for some time.
A huge relief that the injuries sustained by a four year old in another traffic incident are not thought to be life threatening or changing.
We should not have to feel relief, these incidents should not be happening in the first place.
Regrettably, the MP for Birmingham Northfield has printed a circular with false information about the upcoming
@A38Cycleway
extension, which is funded entirely by government grants that cannot be used for other projects or propping up its services.
"We've had decades of car dominance in this city and its lead to a widespread attitude that these sorts of incidents are essentially a normal part of urban life"..."That's not the case"..."we have the ability to change and improve things on our streets"
Campaigners
@for_birmingham
want a “state of emergency” declared on Birmingham’s roads because of an “epidemic of dangerous driving.”
Mat MacDonald spoke to
#PoliticsMidlands
after four deaths on the city’s roads in a month.
#PoliticsMidlands
We're delighted to finally publish the results of our massive study showing the extent of red light jumping by drivers across Birmingham. The numbers have been vividly brought to life by
@ChrisWoodsSays
in this incredible interactive
Very grateful to be invited to help these parents campaign for safer roads.
All areas and communities in Birmingham are suffering the negative effects of decades of car-first policies.
We are pleased messaging is changing, it must be matched with immediate tangible improvements
"If nothing happens I'm scared we'll lose another child"
These parents have to cross 7 lanes of traffic on the A45, Birmingham, clutching their children tightly, just to get to school
They're demanding change after a schoolboy was killed on this road on 8 June
@for_birmingham
If you had a license for a shotgun which you used to maim someone YOU WOULD NEVER GET IT BACK! This man will drive again in < 5 years. Where's the justice for his victim, and all who will have to share the roads with him?
#SafeStreetsNow
#PeaceSpaceJustice
Great morning chatting to people at Brum’s German Market about problems in the city and beyond with speeding and how this impacts us all as pedestrians. Thanks to
@Brakecharity
for organising
#RoadSafetyWeek
to help start these important conversations ❤️
It was brilliant to see so many join today’s
#SafeStreetsNow
action. Our movement grows stronger every time we stand together to challenge the unacceptable status quo in our city. Together we will make our streets the safe, vibrant & joyous places that we all deserve ❤️👏✊
Today, we have submitted our response to
@bhamconnected
's proposals to reduce 25 outlier road speed limits to a consistent 30mph.
This low-cost intervention, paid for with ringfenced money, will reduce speeds on our city's roads and save lives.
We share our streets with people that see them as nothing more than racetracks. This TikTok account (ForzaBirmingham) has a bank of evidence and they’re not even hiding their reg plates.
How long until they brutally kill a child?
@Trafficwmp
@WMPolice
@birmingham_live
Please help us get
#SafeStreetsNow
trending by sharing this film far and wide at 6-7pm this evening.
Tag as many politicians, campaigners, influencers and decision makers as you can and use the hashtag
#SafeStreetsNow
Across the UK, someone is killed or injured on our roads every 16 minutes. Join the national day of action on Saturday 30 September 2023. Find out more:
Today, we had an FOI rejected from West Midlands Police.
The FOI was to understand just how many ANPR activations happen in Birmingham.
This is where an ANPR camera picks up a vehicle that has no MOT, no insurance, no VED, is stolen, or the registration plate is of interest.
No red light cameras are switched on in the West Midlands. The impact of this is visible as our citizen science project found that someone jumps a red light every three cycles.
Thank you to
@BrumPolice
and
@Trafficwmp
officers for running today’s operations. These operations must be ongoing and highly visible, as part of our first ask of West Midlands Police. The tide is turning. Thoughtless driving is unacceptable.
🚗 We’re taking action to make our roads safer!
Today, our officers from
@Trafficwmp
teamed up with partners for a multi-agency road safety operation in
#Birmingham
.
We stopped vehicles for excessive tinted windows, dangerous defects and various driving standards issues.
As we approach a grim council budget, with an expectation that we'll lose access to some vital services, there's been some discussion about how the council can go ahead with transport schemes while possibly cutting other things. Let's sense check where that money comes from. 🧵👇🏼
This 10yr old had just used these local safer streets to learn how cycle whilst indicating. She's building confidence cycling with slow motor traffic, beginning to achieve independence to travel around the city without needing to be driven. A small part of a better future. 🛹🛴🚲
Two pedestrians have been killed on our streets in the last month. These tragedies can and should be prevented.
Join us at MIDDAY (12pm) on Saturday 27th January to demand no more deaths on our roads and put a full stop to this senseless loss of life.
It’s good to see the tide finally turn on the thoughtless driving culture that plagues our city.
This now needs to be commonplace in every neighbourhood so that we can all make it home safely. Whether that’s walking, wheeling, taking public transport or driving.
Thank you to
@WMPolice
for showing me their enforcement work today around Belgrave Middleway.
It is quite astonishing to see first hand some of the vehicles and drivers we share the roads with.
Robust enforcement and close partnership working is essential to reducing road harm.
Cannon Hill Park is a great public space, and part of
@Sustrans
national cycle network connecting south Brum to the city centre.
We love sporting events. Edgbaston stadium is brilliant.
We don't love the decision to give a public green space and cycle route to cars.
Time to come up with a better solution
@BhamCityCouncil
,
@WarwickshireCCC
Turning our city's green spaces into car parks for the convenience of cricket fans driving to matches isn't working. It's a densely populated area-what's the health impact on people living here?
On 22nd December our amazing volunteers are helping people to
#ShopLocal
whilst reducing car traffic in Kings Heath this year by offering a free cargo bike delivery service for purchases too big to carry!
We'll be on All Saints Square on 22nd December between 10 and 5 🎄🚲🎁
Bollards appeared near Bournville Village Primary School! There has also been
@BhamCityCouncil
civil enforcement officers every day for 2 weeks now.
It's a shame our pavements and pedestrians need protection from people driving cars; but great to see this action.
@LizClements
Today people across Bham stood in solidarity with yet another community devastated by a brutal collision. We refuse to accept that this should be a normal part of life in our city. Thanks to
@shuranjeetsingh
@SohoRoadBID
for a powerful collaboration.
Kings Heath to Ladypool Rd bike lane...a 🧵
Ladypool Rd bike lane had been plagued by illegal parking; so having heard it'd been recently protected, took a quick ride down LTNs filtered roads to check it out.
Start on All Saints Rd nr A4040, once a rat run, now a safe LTN route
This article is devastating to read.
Our loved ones are being killed on dangerous roads.
The A45 near
@redhillprimary1
is 7 lanes wide. 8 including car parking. Irrespective individual incidents, this is dangerous by design.
#Traffic
| Officers have heard what the community have said and have targeted vehicles causing obstructions and un-taxed vehicles. 🚔
We were out with ticket officers and a total of 23 tickets have been issued along with 6 cars seized for no tax. ‼️
#yousaiditwedidit
Pavement parking is a huge issue in our region and nationally. We're pleased to see campaigning from across the region on this issue. Pavements are for people.
It’s been fantastic to see candidates in wards which have LTNs hold their seat and even increase their majority or vote share.
We need more LTNs and better cycling infrastructure to link them up.
"Does anything encapsulate the hold that the car has over our city more than the A38? From the gargantuan Gravelly Hill Interchange, 7 lanes of tarmac thunder towards the city centre"...
Our new opinion piece.
@manzanotti
takes on the legacy of Manzoni!
We welcome this announcement of a summit from
@andy4wm
; with the Chief Constable of
@WMPolice
Chief Constable Guildford.
The West Mids Walking and Cycling Commissioner
@adamtranter
always provides focused active travel and road safety perspective.
We look forward to a day where parking is limited to those who most need it so that our green spaces do not become temporary car parks, and secure cycle parking is provided. The Commonwealth Games showed this to be possible with a bit of planning.
💬 “Cricket is one of the sports most at risk from climate change so it’s right we’re leading the charge to change attitudes.”
Our 𝗚𝗼 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗚𝗮𝗺𝗲 ♻️ is the first sustainable game of its kind in UK cricket.
Operations Director Claire Daniel explains more ⬇️
#Edgbaston
Our thoughts go to everyone affected by the tragedies on our roads this year. People are fed up with this unacceptable norm and we will fight to make the devastation it causes a thing of the past. Let's turn the tide on car excess and dangerous driving in Brum together in 2024 ❤️
A fantastic and super productive public meeting this evening. We shared updates from the past month of campaigning and then self-organised into four working groups based on people’s interests. We look forward to seeing how the groups develop and open up to the membership.
💚 Council Elections on 5th May💚
Help us tell the candidates that they can make our buses quicker, our pavements and junctions safer for pedestrians, and our bike lanes safe and direct enough for everyone of any age and ability to cycle around our city 💚👨🏽🦽🚶🏽♀️🚲
We get complaints from the local community about parking - we have enforced it this morning by issuing parking tickets for obstructing the highway.
Sadly, a wheelchair user can't pass with these vehicles parked in such a way.
In Birmingham, we’re struggling to get Active Travel Fund 2 schemes over the line.
In Coventry, they’re a cabinet decision away from extending Binley Cycleway funded by Active Travel Fund 4.
Thank you, Tahmeena, for inviting us into your community for today’s demonstration at the
#A45
Coventry Road junction in Hay Mills where 12-year-old Azaan Khan was killed one month ago. ❤️
So excited to be part of the
#SafeStreetsNow
coalition. Together with groups across the UK we'll be out Saturday 30 September to demand that people's safety takes priority on our roads. To organise in your area, visit
#PeaceSpaceJustice
Thanks to
@dlknowles
for speaking about the history and possible future of Birmingham’s addiction to cars. And for fielding over half an hour of questions! Thank you to everyone who came to listen and those who bought a book. 💖 Photo credit:
@robkewley77
.
#INVESTIGATION
| We've arrested two men after a child tragically died following a collision in
#Birmingham
last night.
We were called after a silver Corsa hit pedestrians in Upper Highgate Street at just after 9.45pm.
An excellent statement from
@Sustrans
.
"Let's be clear: these tragedies are preventable. Loss of life is not an acceptable trade-off for someone getting from A to B"..."everyone should have the freedom to make their daily journeys without fear, violence or intimidation."
@bbcmtd
"We've had decades of car dominance in this city and its lead to a widespread attitude that these sorts of incidents are essentially a normal part of urban life"..."That's not the case"..."we have the ability to change and improve things on our streets"
This is deeply concerning. Our police force don’t even know the scale of the problem. And they can’t respond to every activation because there are so many.
What “war on the motorist”?
📣 Breaking news! There are now 9
#SafeStreetsNow
actions confirmed to take place on 30th September at 11am - Norwich, Havering, Nottingham, Bedford, Cardiff, Oxford, Bristol, London and Birmingham.
Click on the link below for details 👇
Across the UK, someone is killed or injured on our roads every 16 minutes. Join the national day of action on Saturday 30 September 2023. Find out more:
Today,
@WestMids_CA
,
@WMPolice
,
@WestMidsPCC
and
@BhamCityCouncil
have jointly announced new measures in response to the epidemic of dangerous driving in the city. The measures begin to answer each of our three demands from earlier this summer.
In Copenhagen only 7% of children are driven to school.
In the UK, children living in urban cities and towns in 2020, 42% of children are driven to school.
This isn't good for children, parents, or anyone else living in our cities and towns. (DfT dataset NTS9908)
We’re delighted to announce that
#SafeStreetsNow
actions are due to take place in several locations on the 30th September, including: Birmingham, Norwich, Manchester, Bristol, Barry, Leicester, London and Oxford.
To find out how you can get involved see
Why do many of the city’s drivers behave in the way they do? Because they won’t get caught. Average speed cameras work and now need rolling out at scale and at pace. The Police get this, the Council gets this, the Mayor gets this. Let’s do it.
Thank you local
@BBCNews
for talking to us about some of the many benefits of making walking, wheeling and cycling safer and easier.
LTNs are being connected together with safer junctions and bike lanes on main roads to allow more car-free' journeys 💚
The killing of a child cyclist now puts the grim statistics in our letter out of date. The situation is untenable. The Council must take decisive action immediately.
On the 30th of September we came together in 15 locations up and down the country and in Wales to demand:
#SafeStreetsNow
#PeaceSpaceJustice
You can see pictures of all the actions via this website 👇
Standing up for safety is not a war on anyone.
Fantastic to see this new sign on Umberslade Road in Stirchley. Speed kills and signs like these help to reduce average speeds while providing data around the number of times the sign has been activated.
We had a great time at
@mac_birmingham
’s Big Green Weekender talking to people about our group and our
#SafeStreetsNow
campaign. It’s very clear that people everywhere want safer streets. We’ll be back tomorrow 11-4 💚
Our co-chairs Mat and
@mrmjprice
are quoted in today’s
@guardian
re street car racing:
“It has been the cause of multiple deaths and serious injuries on our streets, and is a daily source of irritation, misery and fear for communities across the city,”