Ruth Cumming
@ruthcumming.bsky.social
Mum of 4 | 🧒🏻 2011 🧒🏼 2012 👧🏻🧒🏼 2017 |
Living in Birmingham UK
Getting around by🚶🏻♀️🚲 🚌 🚆| own no car
Trying to minimise our impact on planet 🌎
Living in Birmingham UK
Getting around by🚶🏻♀️🚲 🚌 🚆| own no car
Trying to minimise our impact on planet 🌎
Transport modes for Saturday afternoon activities for the kids: last week a party for 8yo son - we used 🚌; this week a Scout Jamboree selection day for 12yo son - we used 🚗 club. Different locations, different circumstances, different best tools for each job. Privileged to have this much choice.
October 5, 2025 at 7:54 AM
Transport modes for Saturday afternoon activities for the kids: last week a party for 8yo son - we used 🚌; this week a Scout Jamboree selection day for 12yo son - we used 🚗 club. Different locations, different circumstances, different best tools for each job. Privileged to have this much choice.
We’ve had a busy summer so far, juggling work and spending time with the kids, and we’ve not been on a family holiday yet. Day trips, local trips, parks, Scout camps, staying with grandparents and cousins… and more! No car necessary: all doable by walking, cycling, bus or train.
August 16, 2025 at 2:33 PM
We’ve had a busy summer so far, juggling work and spending time with the kids, and we’ve not been on a family holiday yet. Day trips, local trips, parks, Scout camps, staying with grandparents and cousins… and more! No car necessary: all doable by walking, cycling, bus or train.
I rode into town to join @betterstreetsforbirmingham.org demo marking a year since Bham City Council declared a Road Safety Emergency. We held 2 min silence & 23 white roses to remember those who died on Bham roads this year. I don’t accept any road death as an inevitable fact of life in the city.
August 2, 2025 at 8:04 AM
I rode into town to join @betterstreetsforbirmingham.org demo marking a year since Bham City Council declared a Road Safety Emergency. We held 2 min silence & 23 white roses to remember those who died on Bham roads this year. I don’t accept any road death as an inevitable fact of life in the city.
Gone up to £15, but still excellent value for 6 of us to get to Coventry and back in a day, using any train or bus (or tram, but not useful) in the nNetwork WM area. Handily we came home with the 14yo: when we drop them all there, we don’t come back with a child, so it’d be invalid on the way home.
July 20, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Gone up to £15, but still excellent value for 6 of us to get to Coventry and back in a day, using any train or bus (or tram, but not useful) in the nNetwork WM area. Handily we came home with the 14yo: when we drop them all there, we don’t come back with a child, so it’d be invalid on the way home.
Swim lessons were cancelled (again) so we decided to go for a splash time swim, as an activity to cool down for all of us 💦 & to give the twins some practice whilst lessons are off. Easy to get the bus, no worries about a parking space. Even better one day if the A38 cycle route ever gets extended!
July 13, 2025 at 6:45 AM
Swim lessons were cancelled (again) so we decided to go for a splash time swim, as an activity to cool down for all of us 💦 & to give the twins some practice whilst lessons are off. Easy to get the bus, no worries about a parking space. Even better one day if the A38 cycle route ever gets extended!
I had a trip to London today for the launch of a research report I’ve been involved in. Great to be in Parliament to talk about this important work. Most importantly we heard from some of the disabled people who had taken part in the research. These are the voices who planners need to listen to.
July 8, 2025 at 8:26 PM
I had a trip to London today for the launch of a research report I’ve been involved in. Great to be in Parliament to talk about this important work. Most importantly we heard from some of the disabled people who had taken part in the research. These are the voices who planners need to listen to.
Our nearest CoWheels car club vehicle now has a higher bonnet than the previous one (a Toyota Auris estate, which was vandalised recently so they’ve replaced it). Great to have access to a car at all, but concerning that driving this new one is riskier.
June 14, 2025 at 7:53 AM
Our nearest CoWheels car club vehicle now has a higher bonnet than the previous one (a Toyota Auris estate, which was vandalised recently so they’ve replaced it). Great to have access to a car at all, but concerning that driving this new one is riskier.
We’ve hit that time of year when there’s loads of things going on at weekends; it’s summer and near end of school year. Work is also really busy for me. So I’ve not posted on here for a while. Here’s my late lunchtime trip to get some fruit and veg locally. Saw another longtail cargo bike as I left.
June 12, 2025 at 7:00 PM
We’ve hit that time of year when there’s loads of things going on at weekends; it’s summer and near end of school year. Work is also really busy for me. So I’ve not posted on here for a while. Here’s my late lunchtime trip to get some fruit and veg locally. Saw another longtail cargo bike as I left.
So glad we have a teen who gets himself a lot of places under his own steam rather than relying on us for lifts. It’s good for his independence (he’s really savvy on his own with maps, travel apps, directions and navigating transport options) and he gets exercise built naturally into his day.
May 17, 2025 at 5:38 PM
So glad we have a teen who gets himself a lot of places under his own steam rather than relying on us for lifts. It’s good for his independence (he’s really savvy on his own with maps, travel apps, directions and navigating transport options) and he gets exercise built naturally into his day.
Today our cargo bike got used to take one of our 7 year olds to a party about 7 miles away. High (for Birmingham) quality separated cycle infrastructure enabled this trip. If it had been at Goals Dudley rather than Perry Barr, we would’ve used public transport instead, despite being 2 miles closer.
May 11, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Today our cargo bike got used to take one of our 7 year olds to a party about 7 miles away. High (for Birmingham) quality separated cycle infrastructure enabled this trip. If it had been at Goals Dudley rather than Perry Barr, we would’ve used public transport instead, despite being 2 miles closer.
Oooh the Avanti train I’m on is one of the Everos. Feels like I’m off to Devon/Cornwall, as we’ve been on more GWRs like this than Avantis. Thankfully the announcement just reassured me that I am in fact off to London. So many table seats! This reminds me more of the European trains we took recently
May 8, 2025 at 7:16 AM
Oooh the Avanti train I’m on is one of the Everos. Feels like I’m off to Devon/Cornwall, as we’ve been on more GWRs like this than Avantis. Thankfully the announcement just reassured me that I am in fact off to London. So many table seats! This reminds me more of the European trains we took recently
Not been travelling for work for a while. Just waiting for a little while in Birmingham New St before heading down to London on the train for our away day. Looking forward to catching up with colleagues.
May 8, 2025 at 7:05 AM
Not been travelling for work for a while. Just waiting for a little while in Birmingham New St before heading down to London on the train for our away day. Looking forward to catching up with colleagues.
Our cargo bike was in for service for a few days at our local (Bosch dealer) bike shop. I had time during my lunch break today to pick it up, and already put it to good use this evening for swim club. Not normally here on Tuesdays but this week we’ve juggled things around for various reasons.
May 6, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Our cargo bike was in for service for a few days at our local (Bosch dealer) bike shop. I had time during my lunch break today to pick it up, and already put it to good use this evening for swim club. Not normally here on Tuesdays but this week we’ve juggled things around for various reasons.
Cycle infrastructure designed for 8-80 year olds (although these two are 7 and three quarters - very important that 3/4 is!) Lovely ride to Cannon Hill Park and back this morning, made possible by @a38cycleway.bsky.social Not in view: the 12yo who rode there and back solo, also enabled by the infra.
May 5, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Cycle infrastructure designed for 8-80 year olds (although these two are 7 and three quarters - very important that 3/4 is!) Lovely ride to Cannon Hill Park and back this morning, made possible by @a38cycleway.bsky.social Not in view: the 12yo who rode there and back solo, also enabled by the infra.
We took the train to a Beavers outdoor activity day and back yesterday. Several people wound their window down to offer us a lift back. I sensed pity when I politely declined - no car seats/travel sickness meds with us were the main issue, but also this is our choice, no need to feel sorry for us 😊
May 4, 2025 at 2:53 PM
We took the train to a Beavers outdoor activity day and back yesterday. Several people wound their window down to offer us a lift back. I sensed pity when I politely declined - no car seats/travel sickness meds with us were the main issue, but also this is our choice, no need to feel sorry for us 😊
At the dental hospital for an orthodontic appointment. The easiest, cheapest and quickest way for us to get here and back (I need to be on time) is by bike, as there is cycle infrastructure most of the way door to door.
April 28, 2025 at 9:04 AM
At the dental hospital for an orthodontic appointment. The easiest, cheapest and quickest way for us to get here and back (I need to be on time) is by bike, as there is cycle infrastructure most of the way door to door.
Lighter evenings are perfect for impromptu rides to the park after work. Made possible by a mostly off-road route between home and the park.
April 25, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Lighter evenings are perfect for impromptu rides to the park after work. Made possible by a mostly off-road route between home and the park.
Last week I went Interrailing with my older 2 children to Italy. We stayed in Rome and did a day trip to Herculaneum. It took 2 days to get there and 2 to get back. The train travel was lovely and relaxing, the views through the Alps were so stunning, photos can’t capture it. I highly recommend!
April 22, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Last week I went Interrailing with my older 2 children to Italy. We stayed in Rome and did a day trip to Herculaneum. It took 2 days to get there and 2 to get back. The train travel was lovely and relaxing, the views through the Alps were so stunning, photos can’t capture it. I highly recommend!
At 4:45pm I finished work. At 4:50pm I knew that our twins are going out with friends in their car tomorrow. At 4:55pm I realised we didn’t have any travel sickness tablets left for tomorrow. By 5:10pm I have some. How? Because I live in one of those awful 15 minute cities, I walked to the pharmacy.
April 22, 2025 at 4:13 PM
At 4:45pm I finished work. At 4:50pm I knew that our twins are going out with friends in their car tomorrow. At 4:55pm I realised we didn’t have any travel sickness tablets left for tomorrow. By 5:10pm I have some. How? Because I live in one of those awful 15 minute cities, I walked to the pharmacy.
Can’t wait for our Interrail trip starting on Saturday! There’s a bit of a story behind it. The 14yo’s school are doing a trip to Rome & Pompeii, but it would cost us £1k for just him, and a short-haul return flight. So I said I’d take him and the 12yo on the train, costing much less than £1k each!
April 8, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Can’t wait for our Interrail trip starting on Saturday! There’s a bit of a story behind it. The 14yo’s school are doing a trip to Rome & Pompeii, but it would cost us £1k for just him, and a short-haul return flight. So I said I’d take him and the 12yo on the train, costing much less than £1k each!
Just sitting outside swimming club, eating my tea in the lovely evening sun ☀️ We saw another 4 (FOUR!) longtail cargo bikes on our ride over. I’ve never seen that many in such a short time in Birmingham. Stirchley is where it’s at for Brum cargo bikes it seems!
March 18, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Just sitting outside swimming club, eating my tea in the lovely evening sun ☀️ We saw another 4 (FOUR!) longtail cargo bikes on our ride over. I’ve never seen that many in such a short time in Birmingham. Stirchley is where it’s at for Brum cargo bikes it seems!
It was a really fun weekend away at a swim meet. Reminded me of how much I enjoyed swimming as a child. So good to see one of my kids feeling proud of what he can do 😊 in a world that poses barriers to him in other ways. Now enjoying a few hours of TOIL off work this morning before I start the week.
March 17, 2025 at 9:34 AM
It was a really fun weekend away at a swim meet. Reminded me of how much I enjoyed swimming as a child. So good to see one of my kids feeling proud of what he can do 😊 in a world that poses barriers to him in other ways. Now enjoying a few hours of TOIL off work this morning before I start the week.
It’s been a very busy week, and we’ve used most modes of transport available in our area - always choosing the best tool for the job in the case of each journey. This includes trains, buses (still have my free pass) and car club, as well as walking and cycling (which I didn’t get pictures of).
March 2, 2025 at 7:53 AM
It’s been a very busy week, and we’ve used most modes of transport available in our area - always choosing the best tool for the job in the case of each journey. This includes trains, buses (still have my free pass) and car club, as well as walking and cycling (which I didn’t get pictures of).
Another successful example of holiday travel on public transport completed. All the buses, trains and walking we did to get to Ashley (Staffordshire) for 5 days and back again to Birmingham went very smoothly. We didn’t need our back-up plan of taxis (if the infrequent buses hadn’t have worked out).
February 22, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Another successful example of holiday travel on public transport completed. All the buses, trains and walking we did to get to Ashley (Staffordshire) for 5 days and back again to Birmingham went very smoothly. We didn’t need our back-up plan of taxis (if the infrequent buses hadn’t have worked out).