Bikes sales are booming, it said on last night’s excellent BBC4 documentary ‘Ride of My Life: The Story of the Bicycle’, as they always are at times of recession or rationing or when fuel prices spike. And although the bike manufacturers that used to line the canals in the centre of Birmingham have long since gone, one niche company, Brooks England, is still, against all odds, in business. They’ve been operating out of Smethwick since 1866, produce some of the finest handmade bicycle saddles in the world, and, it appears, have never been busier.

The programme also included some fascinating footage of how they do things in Portland, Oregon, a place dubbed the US’s most ‘bicycle friendly city’. Portland has the highest rate of bicycle commuters in the country, runs regular community projects whereby bikes are provided for residents to use free of charge (yes, a lot of them get nicked), and has spent a fortune on cycle friendly highways and infrastructure. And the climax of the cycling year is the city’s Providence Bridge Pedal, an annual bike ride across the ten Willamette River bridges that join up the city. Thousands of cyclists take part every year and the place, it seems, grinds to a halt.

And I see that Birmingham is to hold a similar (sort of) event this year – starting from the Markets in the centre of town, going out along Pershore Road to Cannon Hill Park and heading back again. Which, granted, is not exactly the ten Willamette River bridges, but is probably the most sensible route we can hold it on. The so called ‘Sky Ride’ (yes, it’s sponsored by the TV company) will be held on 12^th September, is costing £70K and, I think, is an excellent idea. There are six taking place across the country (London has held a similar event for years) and, whilst acknowledging that it is only a one day event, it could lead to a few more people taking up the cycling habit. Unlike Portland however, with its miles of cycle friendly highways, and notwithstanding our excellent North Birmingham Cycle Route, the biggest problem for most people (especially those with kids) will be how to get their bikes to the city centre in the first place.