Street artist immortalises tribute to city's cycle inventor in new mural at Pool Meadow Bus Station - The Coventry Observer

Street artist immortalises tribute to city's cycle inventor in new mural at Pool Meadow Bus Station

Coventry Editorial 18th Mar, 2021 Updated: 22nd Mar, 2021   0

ARTWORK is underway on a new street art mural inspired by Coventry-based Victorian cycle innovator James Starley at the city’s bus station.

Poet and street artist Angry Dan, the artist commissioned, put forward a design incorporating bright colours and an Ariel bicycle as a tribute to Coventry’s James Starley – widely considered to be the father of the bicycle industry.

The Pool Meadow mural will also contain a limerick, written by the artist:

James Starley reveals,




His vision of life on two wheels,

The people, alike,


Can all ride a bike,

And soon we’ll be head over heels.

Angry Dan said:  “The limerick was inspired by the significant social transformation brought about the bicycle.

“The invention gave people from all backgrounds the ability to travel miles in any direction of their choosing.

“Notably, the bicycle is regarded as giving women greater freedom, and so is considered by many to be a feminist icon. Hence the lines: the people, alike, can all ride a bike.”

Cou David Welsh, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, said: “This is a really eye-catching design and it will really brighten up this corner outside Pool Meadow.

“It’s fantastic to be able to work with Angry Dan to incorporate art into this space and I’m really looking forward to seeing the mural finished.”

The mural is one of several planned art pieces for Pool Meadow funded by The West Midlands Combined Authority and delivered in partnership with Transport for West Midlands.

Coun Jim O’Boyle, Cabinet Member for Jobs and Regeneration, said: “In 2019, Pool Meadow was handling around 5 million passengers a year and it needed a bit of a facelift. Although the pandemic has meant many people are staying at home over the past 12 months, we hope that people will soon be able to see the difference that this work has made to make it feel truly welcoming to people visiting the city centre via bus.”

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