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Bike It in Birmingham

There are three Bike It officers working in the Birmingham area - John Ashford, Andy Stowe and Rachel Vann (Bike North Birmingham)

Andy Stowe - Bike It officer

Contact Andy

Sustrans, c/o Transport Strategy, Birmingham City Council, 1 Lancaster Circus, Queensway, Birmingham, B2 7JE  

Tel: 0121 675 6930, mob: 07500 833135 or email: Andy.stowe@sustrans.org.uk

A bit about Andy

I was given the opportunity in 2009 to fulfil an ambition – combining a love of sport and cycling with work.  I trained as a Bikeability Instructor and had no idea where it would lead…and I am still not sure! Since then I have worked all over Birmingham in schools and been lucky to be involved with the Bike It project, running Dr Bike sessions, leading rides, and having great fun with Go-Ride playground activities. I am a qualified bicycle mechanic (Cytech 2); have been a British Cycling Skyride Leader and Route Planner for 2 years and I am going through the final stages of my British Cycling Level 2 Coach qualification. I ride with Birmingham Running and Triathlon (BRAT) Club, and can be seen most days cycling around Birmingham, always for pleasure. Say hi if you see me and stop me for a chat. 

I hope I can bring a sense of fun and passion to the work with Bike It. My other part-time job is as a Lecturer in Sport and Leisure Management at Coventry University but I prefer my work with Bike It!

Schools Andy will be working with until March 2012:

What's Andy up to?

Andy has just taken up post on a six month contract to replace Rachel Vann who has moved onto another Sustrans project funded by LSTF and Birmingham City Council - Bike North Birmingham.

Andy has worked with Rachel in a number of Bike-It schools so will be a familiar face as he gets around to meeting you all after the long summer break.

As this phase of the Bike-It Birmingham project comes to a close Andy will be working with schools to set up networks and clusters to keep the momentum behind the great work that Rachel has done - with the help of the School Champions. 

Rachel Vann - Bike It officer, Bike North Birmingham

Contact Rachel

Sustrans, c/o Transport Strategy, Birmingham City Council, 1 Lancaster Circus, Queensway, Birmingham, B2 7JE 

Tel: 0121 675 6930 Mobile: 07920 865079 or email Rachel

What's Rachel up to?

Rachel started in a new post on 1st September 2011, as Bike It officer for Bike North Birmingham.  Funding has been secured through LSTF (local sustainable transport fund) to work with 68 schools in North Birmingham (Sutton Coldfield and Erdington) over the next 4 years.  This will also be working alongside another Bike It officer who we will tell you about soon.  

Rachel’s previous post funded through Big Lottery has sadly almost come to an end, so their job will be to ensure networks and clusters have been set up to keep the momentum behind the great work that Rachel has done - with the help of the School Champions!

Bike North Birmingham is a brand new project and is really quite an exciting time for us and means that we can get even more people cycling to school.  This is twofold.  Firstly, the project is complimented by new infrastructure which has been made possible through Connect 2.  Secondly there will be two Bike It officers working with schools and there will also be officers working with employers and the community within the same area.  For more information about Bike North Birmingham visit www.birmingham.gov.uk/bikenorthbirmingham.          

Rachel’s first task will be to identify new schools and make the most of the nice Autumnal weather, getting them going as intensively engaged Bike It schools. 

Rachel joined Sustrans in 2007

Growing up in the countryside and not wanting to be dependent on my parents for transport, my bike has always been a big part of my life.  I have always enjoyed helping others and passing on skills, as well as sharing my passion for cycling with others.  Although, some of my friends would describe it as ‘pestering’! 

When I saw this job advertised I was teaching in a primary school in rural Worcestershire and I immediately thought that there really couldn’t be a better job.  I was right!  Now nearly 4 years down the line I still stand by that decision and still love sharing my passion for cycling with others, as well as helping others to develop new skills.  I love the moment of realisation:  From a child or parent that they can finally ride a bike on their own, that it actually isn’t that far from home to school and the roads aren’t as scary as they first seemed or even discovering a park that is only 10 minutes by bike.  All of these things and many more make me realise just how lucky I am to be doing a job that I absolutely love.   

I seem to have an ever increasing number of bikes too and despite what anyone says they really do have different purposes.  My most recent and rather extravagant purchase was my time trial bike.  Having dabbled with my first season, I am now, sad to say, a little bit hooked.  I also love cycle touring, having completed John O’Groats to Lands End, as well as visiting amazing places like the Outer Hebrides and Switzerland.  I love the freedom that a bike can give you.  I also enjoy the adrenaline rush of mountain biking and can often be found on Bredon Hill or the Peak District with my little doggie running alongside me.

John Ashford – Bike It Officer

Contact John: Sustrans, c/o Transport Strategy, Birmingham City Council, 1 Lancaster Circus, Queensway, Birmingham, B2 7JE

Tel: 0121 675 6930, Mob: 07748 700385 or email John

John joined Sustrans in October 2011

I have been cycling with a passion ever since I can remember (which is a long time now). I served my apprenticeship at Raleigh Industries as a draughtsman, and then moved on within the engineering industry for many years in many roles. In 2009 I wanted to have a change of work direction and go back to my love of bikes and working with children.

I decided to train as a Bikeability Cycle Instructor in 2009 and had no idea as to where it would lead and more importantly could I make a living from it. Since then I have been self employed working for Birmingham City Road Safety Team at schools all over Birmingham. Whilst working at one of these schools I met Rachel Vann (Bike It officer for Birmingham South) and was lucky to assist her as and when required running Dr Bike sessions, leading rides, and generally having great fun with all activities.

When the opportunity arose in October 2011 to apply for her job due to Rachel moving on to the new Birmingham North Birmingham project I jumped at it. My full time post is only unfortunately to 31st March due to the lottery fund ending.

I am a trained British Cycling Skyride Leader, Route Planner and MIAS Mountain Bike Instructor and Assessor, and can be seen most days cycling in and around Birmingham. I have taught well over a thousand children / adults to either cycle or improve their on road skills, ranging from 80 year old grandmothers down to 3 year old toddlers. I have a collection of different bikes depending upon the task in hand. 

I hope I bring a sense of fun and passion into my role as a Bike It officer. My other part-time job which I resigned from last month was a Stop Smoking Advisor for Sandwell PCT. As you can see it’s all about healthy lifestyles.

John’s Schools for 2011/12

What's John up to?

As this phase of the Bike It Birmingham project comes to a close I will be working with schools to set up networks and clusters to keep the momentum behind the great work that Rachel has done, with the help of the School Champions.

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