Speeding motorbikes and cars on A456

WMP reference: 20DY/42382G/21

I was on my 100% self-powered bike on the A456 between the M5 and Grange roundabout yesterday evening, between 9 and 10 pm when the motorbikes and highly tuned cars went screaming past on both carriageways.  I will report it to W Mids Police via: -

https://www.west-midlands.police.uk/contact-us/report-crimeincident

and copy this onto the site, word for word.  I will also ask our MP James Morris and our three councillors to support us.  I will write to them about what they have done.  What help have we had, can someone tell me, please?  Has a single one shown any interest, do we know?

This behaviour is the very kind that is worsening the climate emergency as we all burn up our finite fossil fuels as if they will never run out.  And, it brings the disturbed climate patterns and extreme weather events that climate scientists have been reporting since 1988 "whose findings are endorsed by the world's governments."  Yet no action from them in 30 years!

Yesterday morning, I cycled up Manor Lane and saw a WMP speed camera van parked as every motorist went obediently past.  Later that day, it needed to be in the Manor Way layby on the eastbound carriageway between Manor Lane and the M5.  Or, preferably, from 9 pm, parked fully in the nearside lane, exactly halfway between the Manor Lane traffic lights and the M5, to narrow the road to the offside lane, only.  That would solve the problem nicely.

I am asking the Police to catch our selfish, thoughtless and ignorant motorists who are worsening climate catastrophe and speeding the exhaustion of our fossil fuels to bring us all down.  BUT IT NEEDS EVERY ONE OF US TO REPORT IT TO

https://www.west-midlands.police.uk/contact-us/report-crimeincident

AND EVERY TIME.

And that includes me as my wife and I try to get to sleep between 10 and 11 on many nights.  From now on I will report it, every time, the following morning, as I'm doing now!   timweller1@gmail.com

This will save you work for something much grander!

Dear Karen - I am being positive, constructive and helpful, here.  And, saving you money to go towards something much more worthwhile.  Honest!!

No need, at all to encourage active travel on a new shared footway alongside A456/Manor Way!

You do not need to change anything, apart from possibly putting in the Toucan crossing at Chadbury Road.  The crossing is needed to encourage bus use by allowing access to Chadbury Road from the westbound bus stop near the HAAC.  It would encourage some users of the HAAC to walk or cycle into the club, too instead of driving.

Please, Karen you need to save the money to urgently upgrade the major, strategic, 22 Kms Black Country Cycle-Walk Mudway to NW Wolverhampton via Wombourne.  Most of the Dudley section is in a disgraceful condition.

I have cycled into Brum for four decades but have NEVER needed to use Manor Way because there are brilliant, alternative cycling routes via pleasant residential roads to the north, on the Halesowen side to Carters Lane.  I cross the A456 on the Carters Lane road bridge and then use the superb traffic-free walking/cycling route for SIX MILES into Brum centre from Carters Lane/Watery Lane!  Please try it yourself, with Les.  I do use the footways from the east end of Dog Kennel Lane to get to Chadbury Road.  But that section can only be widened from Woodbury Close public right of way to Chadbury Road.  It is short and cyclists have to watch out for walkers, give way to them and, give a verbal warning of their approach.  Even my own family used it on my recommendation - and that was quite a victory, I can tell you!

The very few cyclists do not warrant destroying a wooded/shrub nature reserve that is a welcome barrier from the noisy traffic fumed bypass/Manor Way.  No need to destroy nature of which we are part!

Cyclists must be kept cycling, definitely but should be encouraged to find more pleasant and safer, low-trafficked routes via the side roads, even if it does take them longer.  It did take longer for me cycling to work in Brum - every day - but it was great keeping very nearly entirely off Manor Way, except for the very short Grange roundabout section - when I use the footway, still!

Have I convinced you and Les over this - when I so miserably failed over the very fine Dudley Railway needing TRAINS and stations?  I am even willing to show you both if we all got our bikes out!

Best wishes

Tim