REDDITCH bicycle guru Doug Pinkerton has played a key role in a video aimed at making Coventry the cycling city it once was.
The video, called Where the Bicycle was Invented (and Forgotten) was made by Coventry’s Mayor for Cycling Adam Tranter, with the aim of reclaiming the streets to get more people back on their bikes for health, fun, and simply getting around.
And when he wanted to show the historical development of the humble bicycle in Coventry – still the most efficient mode of transport ever invented – who should he turn to but Doug, an expert, together with his family before him, on the history of the machines.
“Coventry is this year’s City of Culture, although sadly there’s not much culture going on because of Covid,” said Doug.
“We have a solid tyred Rover Safety Bicycle in the Pinkerton Historical Cycle Collection in Birmingham which we let Adam use for the video.”
And he added that the video carries a message for us all.
“I found it really informative and it’s applicable everywhere, not just in Coventry.
“It just shows that you don’t have to have the most expensive bike in the world to go out there and enjoy cycling.
“And Redditch is a great place to cycle, it’s surrounded by country lanes and the town itself has miles of bike routes, shared paths and beautiful parks to enjoy.
“Just to get out there in the fresh air for recreation and for getting about is wonderful.”
Coventry was where the explosion in cycling first began thanks to James Starley who, back in 1867, invented the ‘high bicycle’ popularly known as the Penny Farthing.
By the mid-1880s James’s nephew John Kemp Starley had invented the Rover Safety Bicycle, the machine that became the blueprint for virtually every bicycle since.
To see Adam’s video – featuring Doug’s pushbike – visit: https://youtu.be/Mxvk3KO8p20
