A COMMUNITY event has been held in Halesowen at celebrate improvements on Manor Way, making it safer for pedestrians and cyclists.

The event at Halesowen Athletics & Cycling Club on Saturday May 21, attracted club members, riders, members of the community, councillors and the Mayor of Dudley, councillor Sue Greenaway as well as Halesowen MP James Morris.

Halesowen News:

People were invited to take part in sports and games and a virtual cycle hire dock allowed people to take bikes out for free and have a ride around the track at the club.

The event was held to mark the installation of a new toucan crossing near the club on Manor Way to make it safer for cyclists travelling from the club to cross the busy dual carriageway.

New road markings have also been installed and the speed limit has been lowered on a 50mph stretch down to 40mph.

Work has been carried out by Dudley Council and funded by Transport for West Midlands.

Former Commonweath discuss thrower Kevin Brown, who set a world record by pulling a two-tonne Land Rover 69 metres in 45.58 seconds at the club in 2020, was present.

Halesowen News:

Kevin (pictured above with David Viner) completed the challenge two years ago in memory of his friend retired teacher Maxine Riley who was 69 years old when she died of ovarian cancer.

David Viner, Chairman at Halesowen Cycle Club, said the club had been calling for the crossing for a decade.

He said the event on Saturday was a great success and that the crossing had already meant that a lady in a wheelchair had been able to visit the club by travelling on the bus.

The club is backing a campaign for a velodrome to be built in the West Midlands to make indoor track cycling more inclusive.

Halesowen News:

Halesowen Academy tweeted how pleased it was that its young up and coming riders had come out to support the event.