Ruth Cumming

Poster that reads: Family Cycle Ride, Birmingham. Sunday 14 December. Free family bike ride on roads and cycle paths. Riders of all abilities welcome. All children must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Midlands Arts Centre, Cannon Hill Park, B12 9QH. Meet 12.30pm approx. 1 hour ride. Bike Birmingham, Better Streets for Birmingham, Kidical Mass.

Come and join our family cycle ride on Sunday 14 December at 12.30pm, starting in Midlands Arts Centre, Cannon Hill Park.

Free family bike ride on roads and cycle paths. Riders of all abilities welcome. Ride approximately an hour long.

All children must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

I wondered yesterday when I was looking at the route why I couldn’t see tracking online, but thought it was just a glitch. Now actually doing the journey. Thankfully the first bus came more or less on time (1 min late) and I was so pleased to see it! Yes “scheduled” is usually not reliable.

The reason for our trip is the 13yo got selected as a group of 30ish to represent Birmingham Scouts at the 2026 World Scout Jamboree Poland. Once a month we have to get him to different places in the city- today is 1 hour on the bus across town. Next month it might be a walk or cycle closer to home.

Aha! Yes only options for us are NX today.

Feeling this today. Takes me back to the 1990s. Have become so used to the RTPI! Thankfully first bus appeared more or less on time.

Is it just me/in the West Midlands, or is bus tracking completely broken this weekend? Can’t get real time info on google maps, bustimes.org or bus stops. Disconcerting waiting at a stop without it 😬

30 Sep 25: Transport for West Midlands YouTube video by Active Travel Cafe

Finally caught up with the WM Active Travel & Road Safety Commissioners’ chat on @activetravelcaf.bsky.social (I can never make it live, it’s right after work when we’re dealing with tea & kids’ activities) Sounds like they’re up to great things locally. Hoping for change! youtu.be/ftXA6UhTzp8?...

A child looking out of the window on the top deck of the bus.

Two children waiting to get into a white car parked on a field.

Transport modes for Saturday afternoon activities for the kids: last week a party for 8yo son - we used 🚌; this week a Scout Jamboree selection day for 12yo son - we used 🚗 club. Different locations, different circumstances, different best tools for each job. Privileged to have this much choice.

Yes that’s a good analogy!

I know it’s well intentioned and I don’t mind being offered most of the time. I just didn’t think that this would be the hardest thing of not owning a car that I’m finding right now. We offer lifts too when we’re using a club car, as we try to sort lift shares that help everyone.

💯 how I felt last night. He had waterproofs on & anyone who knows him knows that water is his favourite thing, hence the swim club. He’s often found exploring in streams, and jumps at the chance to do water sports. He’s spending this afternoon in the rain with Scouts. 10 mins in the rain is nothing.

I totally get the kindness of offer, I’m not saying I’m not appreciative. I know it comes from the right place. We offer lifts too, we do lift shares in the CoWheels club car. Husband is doing that right now, dropping our Scout off for afternoon session & picking up a friend who did morning session.

That car, since 2017, when I was pregnant with twins, taking us from 2 to 4 children. We’d always been car light. It sat on drive unused during Covid, then broke down when I eventually took it out one day. Needed around £2k worth of repair, so started trial without, still going 5 yrs later.

Yes, these are the kind of explanations I say all the time. Mostly I don’t mind, but when I’m tired it gets to me more, like at the end of a busy week on a Friday night coming home from swim club with a 12yo on the back of the cargo bike who gets offered a lift.

Yes definitely get it more from people we don’t know as well. I post a lot on my instagram account, trying to normalise what we do, and the advantages that people don’t think of, like you say.

I hear you, it’s exhausting. Last week it was a lift home from a party when I was looking forward to 1:1 time on the bus with my 8yo (rare with 4!). Last night it was offer of lift home for my 12yo in the rain instead of cargo bike - same kid is doing Scouts jamboree selection day in rain today!

Yes, I get this too. If I’m not too exhausted I engage in conversation to try to explain why we’re totally fine with walking/cycling/taking the bus for that journey. We are also privileged to live in a place where daily life is walkable in 15-20mins, except 1 school with good public bus connection.

No, years behind still. We have a couple of flagship cycle tracks on 2 trunk roads into the city centre. In the local area where we live, walking and cycling is OK, I mean not brilliant but doable. Beyond that we mostly get the bus or train.

I agree, having lived without one as a family of 6 for 5 years. It’s just exhausting when families around us don’t get it. We are surrounded by people for whom a (or 2 or 3) car/s definitely is the default.

What’s the hardest thing about not owning a car? When we first sold the car, I’d have guessed something like inconvenience or it takes more time to travel. But now, 5 years later, honestly I’d say the mental energy involved having to explain to others why we don’t need their (well intentioned) lift.

I tried to ride through town from Hill Street to Summer Lane last week. Not done that route for a while. I was reminded how utterly awful cycling through Brum city centre is. Not intuitive or convenient at all. Wouldn’t bother if I wasn’t so determined to use my bike.

I have a Liv Flourish with all of the above spec. Mine is 17” frame (I’m 5ft6in), but can get smaller ones.

I made a new thing 🧵 Working with @transportforall.org.uk we have built an even better spreadsheet for analysing streets (actual or being designed) and showing their likely accessibility for different disabled people. It’s free to download and use www.rossatkin.com/wp/?portfoli...

A blue rucksack, a multi coloured rucksack and a rainbow tote bag on a bus seat.

Three children building a den under a tree.

Three children looking at a statue of a bull that’s been painted for charity.

Three children waiting on a station platform and the train is approaching.

We’ve had a busy summer so far, juggling work and spending time with the kids, and we’ve not been on a family holiday yet. Day trips, local trips, parks, Scout camps, staying with grandparents and cousins… and more! No car necessary: all doable by walking, cycling, bus or train.

Some of us went to the Clean Kilo this morning whilst others of us were playing/watching football at Rowheath. Can’t afford to buy all our food there, but we do what we can - the fruit and veg plastic free is the main thing that draws us there.

Infographic summarising economic value of buses in the region. These include: £2.6 billion in annual spending by bus passengers in local economies, supporting high streets, shops, and leisure venues. £580 million in direct, indirect, and induced economic activity from the bus industry. £951 million in wider social and environmental benefits, including improved health outcomes, reduced congestion, and cleaner air. Every £1 of public money spent on improving bus services in the region generates as much as £4.55in wider economic benefits.

The economic value of buses in England’s Economic Heartland is neatly captured in this new report.

Every £1 invested in buses generates an estimated £4.55 in wider economic benefits.

Over £2.6bn is spent by bus users in the local area (including in shops & leisure venues).

Birmingham city council house with Victoria Square in front. A blue cargo bike with placards and a few people hanging around. Three placards say No More Deaths between them.

I rode into town to join @betterstreetsforbirmingham.org demo marking a year since Bham City Council declared a Road Safety Emergency. We held 2 min silence & 23 white roses to remember those who died on Bham roads this year. I don’t accept any road death as an inevitable fact of life in the city.

One year of Birmingham's Road Safety Emergency! Last July, Birmingham City Council declared a road safety emergency. Better Streets for Birmingham is marking the first anniversary of the Road Safety Emergency with a gathering in Victoria Square, Birmingham on Friday 1st August, followed by the regular monthly Circle the City ride. Join us to honour those whose lives have been lost or seriously affected by road violence and to continue our calls for action to make Birmingham's roads safer for everyone. Meeting at Victoria Square, Birmingham City Centre on Friday 1st August 5pm for 5.30pm start, followed by Circle the City ride at 6pm. Support the campaign for safer streets: betterstreetsforbirmingham.org/join-us

Join us on Friday 1st August to mark one year of Birmingham's road safety emergency. Meet in Victoria Square at 5pm for a 5.30pm start. Stay around for the monthly Circle the City ride.

Next weekend we need to get the 14yo to Scout camp, the 12yo to a different Scout camp, & the twins to swim lessons all at the same time. This is not a lack of car issue, as people often assume. This is just we can’t be in several places at once. Good job the 14yo can get himself places by train.

Women Changing Cities Podcast Episode · Streets Ahead · 21/07/2025 · 40m

Out of office on! Birthday 🎉 weekend, followed by 2 days off paid work, to spend time with the kids on days out. Starting with a podcast that I’ve been looking forward to, and can’t wait to read the upcoming book! Thanks @podstreetsahead.bsky.social @modacitylife.com shows.acast.com/streets-ahea...