Cycling in Birmingham - don't be put off!

To those not used to the teeming traffic and potholed, glass-strewn roads of the big city, cycling in Birmingham seems a daunting idea, strictly for the reckless. Some people give it a try on a fine summer's day, only to give up. Birmingham has few cycling facilities so far and cannot be said to be cycle friendly, and the difficulties are real enough.

However people can and do cycle successfully in Birmingham. With a little planning, it is possible to find on- and off-road routes where one can cycle in safety and comfort right across the conurbation, where one can teach children to ride their bikes, or enjoy a leisure ride through some of the parks. One can also mix it with the traffic, and treat it with the respect it deserves by learning roadcraft. The secret is in devising one's particular routes that offer the best compromise between directness, good road surfaces, traffic and avoidance of particularly unpleasant stretches such as busy roundabouts or dual carriageways.

Cycling facilities are slowly appearing, such as bus/cycle lanes, and SUSTRANS Route 5 the part of the National Cycle Network which crosses Birmingham opened officially, and this has caused some very useful facilities to appear along this north-south corridor, which will hopefully have links added from other directions as well as further improvements. Go on, send them some money to help them do more!

Maps The Cycle City Birmingham cycling map is soon to be superceded by a second edition being published by Birmingham City Council. It shows the cycle paths and lightly trafficed roads, and can be used instead of an A-Z for general navigation. It is easy to devise particular routes, which can then be refined with practice, as and when required.

The SUSTRANS map of the West Midlands Cycle Route 5 from Oxford to Derby via Birmingham is the usually beautifully designed product.

Cycle paths The main one is the Rea Valley Route from the city centre going south, which forms part of Sustrans route 5 which also goes north from the city to Lichfield. There is also the Cole Valley path to the east.

Canal towpaths There is a very extensive network of canal towpaths which can be used. These belong to British Waterways; cycling is permitted on some, but not all towpaths, although in practice there is little attempt at restriction. Some towpaths have been surfaced in crushed stone to provide an all-weather surface, and barriers have been installed at intervals to deter motorcyclists from using them. There are, however, many legitimate canal towpath users including people with boats, fishermen, walkers and runners, dog owners as well as cyclists. Cyclists should ride with consideration for other users, using bell or voice to warn politely when approaching people from behind, and slowing especially when dogs or children are about - fast commuters should keep to the road.

The canals, together with their towpaths reflect Birmingham's history as a commercial centre, and were a key factor in the growth and success of the city. The 18th century ones follow the contours of the land and wiggle their way along in an endless series of curves, which can be fun to explore. Later, cuttings and embankments allowed a straighter line, as can be seen along the towpath cycleway from Birmingham to Wolverhampton. The book "Birmingham Canal Navigations" published by JM Pearson provides a detailed guide, and a range of this sort of literature is in the local history section in Waterstones Bookshop.

Push Bikes If Birmingham is still one of the least cycle-friendly cities, probably in Europe, it is not the fault of the campaign group, Push Bikes. This is a campaigning group, with a lively monthly newsletter, which organises monthly rides and also weekly evening rides in the summer, as well as other events. The numbers of people demanding cycling facilities fom Birmingham City Council make a real difference in deciding the allocation of funds for this, so public support for this is very important.

Public transport Centro, which coordinates public transport in Birmingham, has ensured that all local trains carry bikes free and without restriction, which is a big help. The main operator of local trains is Central Trains and most of their trains have a compartment with extra space for wheel chairs, prams and bikes, marked by a symbol on the outside. On other trains, the conditions of the various train operating companies apply, some needing a reservation, but others such as Silverlink (who are so cheap and cheerful they don't even have a website) and Chiltern Railways to the south almost unrestricted except at peak times in and out of London. A cheap day return available after about 0900-0930 on weekdays with some restrictions on return, and all day on Saturdays and Sundays, can be an excellent and economical way of getting right out into the countryside in a short time, allowing one to enjoy central Wales, the Peak District or the Cotswolds.

The buses and Metro tram don't take bikes as such, but a folder in a bag can usually be carried as luggage without question, and the newest buses have plenty of space for wheelchairs and prams (and folders). The cheap day saver ticket can take one right to the edge of the city for a day's ride, and then back again, for surprisingly little. The folding bike costs a bit more.

Equipment, lights, reflectives, locks Urban cyclists have particular needs, mainly concerning safety and security. An expensive bike can attract attention, not all of it desirable, so a tatty-looking hack bike can be a practical solution for city riding. It still needs protection, and a U lock is the minimum protection, with the bike locked up to a solid object, or even a bike stand where available. The locally-made Squire locks have been well reported recently. It is wise to lock up your bike at home, too, and not to leave it where it can be seen.

Lights are as important for being seen, as for seeing by - it never gets dark in the sodium glare at night, although unlit parts of the towpath need good lights. Dynamo lights are popular, as well as LED's or preferably both, and also battery lights running on rechargeables, longer lasting nickel metal hydride cells now being available from Jessops photographics and from Argos. Bright coloured clothing is important especially during the dark months and evenings, and reflectives in the dark, which can be got from the Technicolour Tyre company, PO Box 373, Brookwood, Surrey GU24 0BA.

Broken glass is widely scattered over roads, cycle paths and towpaths and although the vigilant can avoid most of it, punctures can be a problem. Inspecting the tyres at intervals and removing glass shards from the cuts they caused can stop some from working their way through to the inner tube. Puncture resistant tyres such as Continental "Top Touring" or Schwalbe "Marathon" also help lessen the problem although all tyres eventually give in to "death by a thousand cuts".

A rear view mirror can also be valuable for keeping an eye on hazards from behind, such as white vans and cars that fail to pull out to give room when overtaking, or cyclists who may want to overtake on a towpath.

Bike shops are listed, without particular recommendation (there are also many branches of Halfords)