Walkcycleplay
Charity 1202223
Overview
Summary
Walkcycleplay appears to be a West Midlands active-travel charity whose practical role is centred on civic advocacy rather than direct service provision. Its public-facing activity, under the name Push Bikes, combines campaigning, scrutiny of transport schemes, research into international practice and member-based social activity. This suggests an organisation seeking to influence the conditions in which people cycle, walk and play—not only individual behaviour—while building a constituency able to engage with local transport decisions.
Operational geography
Coverage: Citywide
Operational areas:
- City Centre
Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
City Centre
Confidence: high
Direct evidence shows current advocacy activity focused on City Centre transport schemes. The wider conclusion that the organisation is citywide is a reasonable interpretation of its stated Birmingham-wide campaigning role and recent work on schemes in several parts of the city.
- Push Bikes official website, homepage
Describes Push Bikes as campaigning for better cycling in Birmingham and highlights recent posts concerning City Centre active-travel issues. - Push Bikes official website, Consultation: Knowledge Quarter active travel schemes, 25 February 2026
Push Bikes commented on Birmingham City Council proposals for streets across the Knowledge Quarter, including links between Aston University and the city centre. - Push Bikes official website, Consultation: City Centre cycle route, 10 December 2025
Push Bikes published an assessment of a cycle-route upgrade from the city centre.
Remaining uncertainties
- The evidence supports an operational identity centred on public advocacy, consultation responses, information and social cycling activity, rather than delivery from fixed service venues.
- The official site states that Push Bikes campaigns in Birmingham and Solihull, while the charity's objects refer more broadly to the West Midlands. Available current evidence is insufficient to establish a sustained operational footprint outside Birmingham for the registered CIO.
- No physical operational site is evidenced. The Birmingham address is stated as 'c/o VWV LLP' and should be treated as a correspondence address, not evidence of a service location.
- Birmingham City Council and Transport for West Midlands appear as consultation bodies and stakeholders, but the available evidence does not establish a formal partnership that materially delivers Push Bikes services.
- Some consultation articles carry a disclaimer that blog views do not necessarily represent Push Bikes policy. They nevertheless provide evidence that the organisation's website is being used currently for geographically specific active-travel advocacy.
Additional evidence needed
- A current trustee annual report, work plan or impact report identifying campaigns, events, rides and engagement activity by location.
- Confirmation from Walkcycleplay/Push Bikes of whether it has any regular meeting venue, office, storage location or other physical operational base.
- Evidence of any current formal delivery partnerships, commissions or funded projects with Birmingham City Council, Transport for West Midlands, schools, venues or community organisations.
- A current list of organised rides or events with geographic areas and frequency, to distinguish regular place-based activity from occasional or historic activity.
Areas of work
- Education/training
- Other Charitable Purposes
- The Advancement Of Health Or Saving Of Lives
Who they help
- The General Public/mankind
How they help
- Provides Advocacy/advice/information
Discoveries involving this organisation
The Atlas has not published any Discoveries involving this organisation yet.
Observations
It operates as a civic watchdog as well as a campaign group
The available evidence suggests that Walkcycleplay uses consultations, stakeholder scrutiny and public campaigning to shape transport decisions. It may therefore play a bridging role between residents and public bodies, rather than simply promoting cycling to individuals.
Why it matters
This helps explain its potential influence: its value may lie in making infrastructure decisions more visible, contestable and informed by active-travel users.
Show evidence
“Push Bikes campaigns for better cycling in Birmingham.”
Source:Organisation“We are a stakeholder group scrutinising the Birmingham Cycle Revolution.”
Source:Organisation“The website includes posts on Birmingham City Council consultations on active travel and road-safety schemes.”
Source:Organisation
Its strategy appears to connect local intervention with external learning
The organisation appears to combine local Birmingham-focused advocacy with national campaigning and research into international cycling practice. This may indicate an effort to translate wider evidence into local change.
Why it matters
It distinguishes the organisation from a purely local campaign: it may be a conduit through which lessons from other places enter West Midlands transport debates.
Show evidence
“Change needs to take place at a national level if we are to achieve the cycling levels seen in continental Europe.”
Source:Organisation“Push Bikes members have studied global best practice, visiting other countries to learn how they achieve higher levels of cycling than Britain.”
Source:Organisation“The charity's objects include advocating and campaigning on matters relating to active travel and physical recreation.”
Source:Charity Commission
There is a notable gap between its broad charitable remit and its visible cycling emphasis
Although the charity objects encompass walking, cycling and play, the supplied website evidence is overwhelmingly focused on cycling infrastructure and cycling activity. Walking and play may be less developed, less visible or represented elsewhere.
Why it matters
This is important when assessing whether the organisation is a broad active-living partner or principally a cycling advocacy organisation operating under a wider charitable remit.
Show evidence
“The charity's objects include promoting walking, cycling and play.”
Source:Charity Commission“Push Bikes campaigns for better cycling in Birmingham.”
Source:Organisation“The website lists cycle-route, cycle-track and cycling-related consultation posts.”
Source:Organisation
- The relationship between the registered name Walkcycleplay and the public-facing name Push Bikes is not explained.
- There is no evidence of organisational scale, funding, staff, membership, partnerships or policy outcomes.
- It is unclear whether walking and play receive substantive activity beyond the charitable objects.
Remaining uncertainties
- Annual reports or impact reports showing campaigns, partners, participant numbers and outcomes.
- Evidence of walking and play projects, and clarification of the relationship between Walkcycleplay and Push Bikes.
Additional evidence needed
Charity Commission profile
Activities
Charity objects
THE OBJECTS OF THE CIO ARE TO PROMOTE AND PROTECT THE GOOD HEALTH OF THE PUBLIC, WITH A PARTICULAR FOCUS ON THE WEST MIDLANDS, BY PROMOTING WALKING, CYCLING AND PLAY IN SUCH WAYS AS THE TRUSTEES SHALL THINK FIT, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO: 3.1.1 ADVOCATING AND CAMPAIGNING ON ALL MATTERS RELATING TO ACTIVE TRAVEL AND PHYSICAL RECREATION; 3.1.2 ENCOURAGING AND ENABLING MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, IRRESPECTIVE OF THEIR AGE, ABILITY, GENDER, RACE, OR SOCIAL OR ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES, TO CYCLE, WALK OR ENGAGE IN ACTIVE PLAY THROUGH THE PROVISION OF APPROPRIATE FACILITIES, SERVICES, TRAINING, AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES; 3.1.3 PROMOTING HEALTHY RECREATION AND PUBLIC SAFETY PARTICULARLY ON HIGHWAYS; AND 3.1.4 EDUCATING AND RAISING THE AWARENESS OF MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IN ALL ISSUES RELATING TO WALKING, CYCLING AND PLAY AND THEIR IMPACT ON HEALTH.