The North Birmingham Cycle Route, is an excellent initiative by Birmingham City Council, enbaling cyclists to go safely from close to Spaghetti Junction to Sutton Park. So what is the problem between College Road and Kings Road? And is it a problem anywhere else?
I am a keen cyclist and the North Birmingham Cycle Route is very useful to me. However I noticed a phenomenon over the Christmas 2004 holidays -the chavs have to get quad bikes and mini motor cycles for their kids.
Kingstanding is not a wealthy area, but it was incredible how, on Christmas morning I could the distant sound of chain saws (oh how wished they were re-enacting one of their favourite videos -no such luck!). All through the holiday you couldn’t move for kids on motorcycles (with no crash helmets -no brains to damage!) and huge areas of public open green space being churned up by quad bikes. Of course, a solitary cyclist is a target and I can assure you I got out of the area very quickly. Obviously the bikes had been stolen, but why is it that you never see them any other time of the year? And have other correspondents noticed anything similar?
Such activity has not gone unnoticed by our eyes. I watch keenly from a distance at how they use Sutton park as their own little stunt track for amusement. Relishing the look on their face when they realise that a cheap children’s quad bike will not perform aerial jumps, I often face a choice. Do I hate them for their stupidity and selfishness, or pity them because ultimately it is not their fault?
I know not what that sort of life must be like. Condemned to spend eternity as a nothing, no hope, no education, no prospects and nationally despised.
I wonder what it is like for them….