West Midlands Archives

West Midlands

CCTV operators insist catching bike thieves still a priority, despite uncertainty around British Transport Police’s controversial no investigation U-turn

"If there is a crime in action we will communicate with the police... why wouldn't you take an active response to stopping criminals in their tracks?"

Tue, Mar 17, 2026 15:46

Under-fire police force missed 14-day window to take action in two-thirds of reports by cyclists, data reveals

Concerning West Midlands Police data suggests hundreds of reports are being missed each month, but force insists it is "working hard to reduce backlog" and is "prioritising more serious offences"

Wed, Sep 10, 2025 11:21

Cyclist waiting to cross junction, Birmingham (credit: Better Streets for Birmingham)

“Downgraded volunteer” cycling and walking commissioner role offering £10k a year doesn’t reflect the “scale and urgency” of “road safety emergency” in West Midlands, say campaigners

The position has been left abandoned for over 100 days after Adam Tranter stepped down, as concerns about the low-paid and voluntary nature of the role, first speculated by road.cc, turned out to be true

Wed, Nov 06, 2024 12:50

A38 cycle lane, Birmingham (Birmingham Cycle Revolution)

Is cycling and walking being shafted in the West Midlands? Mayor distances himself from “downgraded” voluntary road safety job ad that has since disappeared

Richard Parker denied involvement in the short-lived job posting, with one active travel campaigner saying that replacing a full-time Walking and Cycling Commissioner role with a voluntary one would be "devastating" for cycle route delivery in the region

Sat, Nov 02, 2024 12:50

Local reporter asks if motorists care that cyclists are dying on roads at “alarming rate” – and readers respond by claiming cyclists “think they own the road then suffer the consequences” amid calls for cycling licences, insurance, and mandatory helmets

“If more than 100 people every year were murdered by gangs of madmen wielding chainsaws, the government would make it near-impossible to buy a chainsaw. But when it comes to the deaths of cyclists on our roads, we bury our heads in the sand”

Mon, Jul 15, 2024 17:46

“This will cost lives”: Safety fears as key active travel role axed on same day cycling and walking commissioner resigns

A safe streets campaign group warned the "misstep" will "jeopardise delivery of a vital transport plan" and could see more vulnerable road users injured or killed

Tue, May 14, 2024 16:03

Conservative MP slammed for “incorrectly” claiming that “bankrupt” council is prioritising £10m cycle lane extension over local services

Cycling campaigners have pointed out that plans to upgrade the “existing death trap on-road” cycle lanes are being funded by the government, not the local authority

Wed, Mar 20, 2024 15:58

Police force that prosecuted one driver from 286 close pass reports now taking action in 97% of cyclist submissions

Six months on from admitting the need to review how reports are managed, the latest West Midlands Police figures show the force did not take further action of some form in just three of 356 reports made by cyclists during January

Tue, Feb 27, 2024 13:07

Cyclists welcome 24-mile cycleway along HS2 as West Midlands mayor aims to enable cycling and walking as “natural first choice for short journeys”

The construction roads and maintenance pathways of HS2 are to be repurposed for a “continuous, high-quality active travel route”

Fri, Feb 23, 2024 11:47

“I’ll set my dog on you!”: Driver dangerously passes cyclist, and then threatens to make his dog attack him

The police has now informed the cyclist that the car is unregistered and they won’t be able to trace the driver

Sat, Nov 25, 2023 12:25