So, Velo 2020 - who's excited ?

[VeloHostage]

As to think from this puff piece you should be ...

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-51310377

no one ?

Yet again we have to cross the route to go anywhere. It is Father's Day as well do obviously people will want to visit their Dad's. No information from Velo or Coventry Council last year and no doubt this year will be the same.

Is this the thing that shut all the roads last year and a horse died because the vet couldn't get through?

Yes. They have been allowed to take over yet again. No consideration for anyone.

Is this the thing that shut all the roads last year and a horse died because the vet couldn't get through?

That's the badger !

Have checked this years route, and unlike 2017 - when we were locked in for 10 hours on the Sunday - it manages to miss us this year. However as the route goes over 100 miles there will be thousands of people (once again) who will be confined to quarters for part of the day.

Worth noting that the local authorities involved have been paid for allowing their residents to suffer for sparity (or is it chort ?). So a few FOI requests (again) should reveal how much it saves on your council tax. That's because while a lot of entrants are raising money for charity, the Velo organisation itself is a commercial entity that pays it's directors and shareholders with the money they've not had to pay the councils.

Then it's a bit shit if they do the same thing again this year. One group of people shouldn't be able to close off an entire area for hours on end and make it extremely difficult for others to go about their usual business. Is it not possible for them to do rolling road closures in a similar way to the TdY?

Is it not possible for them to do rolling road closures in a similar way to the TdY?

No, because they made the course a loop. So quite a lot has to stay shut for a long time. As I said, in 2017 we couldn't leave between 8am and 6pm as the road at the end of our road was part of the course.

Still, at least

Velo Birmingham brought to you by Active Sport & Entertainment Limited. Company Reg 10225082

will be making a nice wedge out of the event. So at least peoples inconvenience isn't going to waste and someones making money out of it.

My parents live in walking distance to me. Last year it took over 15 minutes to cross the course to get to their house. The stewards did nothing to help. It was terrifying the speed they were doing. I can't believe they have been allowed to do this again.

These topic became really, really nasty last year. I assume you’ve written to the organisers, the council, and your MP with your concerns.

Yes I have contacted them all. Money talks unfortunately.

These topic became really, really nasty last year. I assume you’ve written to the organisers, the council, and your MP with your concerns

The organisers ignored me.

Local councillors made a huge party political point that it was the Labour Councils fault.

Council ignored me.

Local MP was sympathetic, but could do very little. You need to bear in mind this event crosses many authorities and constituencies.

The only good thing about the Velo in 2017 was that Birmingham Council was forced to clear the route of the buildup of 9 weeks worth of uncollected rubbish, and because Brummies are not as thick as they sound, they added their own rubbish to the route to be collected.

I thought I'd try and post first this year, as the discussion last year became very diverse with a lot of people thinking it was an attack on cycling per se (which is most assuredly wasn't and isn't) and started responding to points that weren't actually being made.

Part of the problem is also the low-to-invisible level of engagement between the organisers and the affected residents. They claim they mailshot everyone (not me though) so a lot of people only found out in the last weeks when the signs warning of road closures go up. I guess those profits don't earn themselves.

Yes the first we knew was when the yellow signs went up at the end of the road. Allegedly they sent us two letters but nobody in the area I know got one strangely enough. Velo don't answer questions or give an answer to a question that wasn't asked. Their advice for this year is to time us leaving our house after 1pm. Who do they think they are? We are being dictated to by a profit making company and our council are allowing it.

I wonder what considerations were given to people unable to walk who rely on vehicular transport to leave their homes ?

None I imagine. We can't park on our road or drive on it on the day. We are cut off from the other half of the city including the hospital. They claim to let people through if necessary but they didn't last year.

Not being an activist, I'd be curious to know if you'd need to submit several different FOIs to be ignored individually, or a single easy to ignore bumper pack, about the Equality Act considerations.

Personally I'm not a fan of direct action - generally two wrongs rarely make a right. But understanding is not condoning, and I understand why some people may have taken extreme actions last year and 2017.

Just popped into my inbox ...

Dear Residents,

We are getting in touch to let you know that Vélo Birmingham & Midlands, the 100-mile closed road cycling event will be returning this year on Sunday 21st June. As you reached out to us in 2019, Vélo wanted to give you as much notice of the 2020 event date and provide you with key event information including details about the route so you can consider how to plan around the road closures.

Attached is a copy of the detailed road closure map, which also highlights the road closure times. We recommend you take the time to look at the road closure map, along with the interactive route map and road closure FAQ’s on our website here.

Where possible, we encourage you to plan any journeys ahead of time and consider the best mode of transport, departure time and route to avoid the road closures. If you need to travel on Sunday 21 June, please allow plenty of time for travel. On the day of the event, the easiest way to navigate the road closures will be to use Google maps of a live update GPS, as the route and road closures will be updated live.

Similar to last year, in order to ensure the safety of the residents, general public and participants, there will be parking restrictions in place along the event route. More information will be available closer to the event and for those affected we advise where possible using local parking locations or alternative roads clear of the route. Whilst the cycling route will be closed to vehicles, pedestrian access via existing footpaths will be maintained and we advise all residents to use footpaths and existing crossing points where possible.

Vélo will be sending an event leaflet to all residents and businesses within the event footprint from w/c 10th February, detailing key information about the event, along with road closures maps and key contact details. So, keep your eyes peeled for when this is posted through your letter box. Please find attached a copy of the leaflet for reference, which will also be available on our website here.

We are here to help, if you are struggling to navigate the road closures, find a route or have a specific access enquiry or question about the 2020 event, please do not hesitate to get in touch as early as possible to [email protected] or call the event answering machine on 0121 396 1296 and we will be happy to call you back.

If you no longer wish to receive these important email communications regarding the Vélo Birmingham & Midlands event, please let us know. If you do not want to receive these communications, we recommend that you regularly check the event website for updates at www.velobirmingham.com.

We’d like to thank you for support in 2019 and look forward to your co-operation this year.

Kind regards,

The Vélo Birmingham & Midlands Route Team

Yes I got one too. They can't even be arsed to put our road on the map for Coventry. They miss off the whole start of it.