News

Musical roads to soothe traffic calming

June 24, 2016

Motorists could be soothed by roads that play a tune when passed over by vehicles driving within the speed limit. A road leading to Mount Fuji has been fitted with rumble strips that play a tune when driven over. The strips are paced at intervals that play a song called "Miagete goran yoru no hoshi wo" by Kyu Sakamoto. The suburu highway is...

Breakdown

Does travel insurance cover Airbnb?

June 23, 2016

From its humble beginnings in a San Francisco loft, online property rental platform Airbnb now offers its 60 million users the chance to ‘live’ – even if only for a night - in over 57,000 cities throughout the world. With more and more people booking through Airbnb, and the ever-present importance of having adequate travel insurance in...

Air Travel

Blubel: Satnav for cyclists

June 23, 2016

Blubel is a new handlebar-mounted satnav for cyclists that navigates your every turn and learns from you and the cycling community to find the safest routes. Cyclists have not developed a reliance on satnavs. Maybe we’re creatures of habit who usually stick to the same local routes. Maybe it’s because getting...

Cycling

Hidden GPS tracker for bicycles

June 21, 2016

Sherlock is a hidden GPS tracker for bicycles that allows you to locate your bike at any time. Tipping the scales at 50 grams, Sherlock is small enough to be installed easily and securely within the handlebars of your bicycle. Hidden behind plain handlebar plugs, the tracker is invisible to the thief who...

Cycling

Festival gear 2016: Backpack chair transformer

June 20, 2016

With festival season in full flow and British summer doing what it does best, laugh in the face of muddy campsites with this backpack that boasts a built-in chair. The backpack allows you to carry 47 litres of camping gear, and when you are ready to take the weight off, quickly transforms into a comfortable seat measuring 35 x 27 x 50 cm....

Environment

ETA voted Britain's most ethical insurance company 2016

June 17, 2016

The ETA has been voted to be ethical in Britain for the second year running by the Good Shopping Guide. Beating household-name insurance companies such as John Lewis and the Co-op, the ETA earned an ethical company index score of 89. The ETA was established in 1990 as an ethical provider of green, reliable travel services. Twenty six years...

Breakdown

World's most extreme mobility scooters

June 17, 2016

Of the 300,000 mobility scooters in Britain, most are surprisingly capable at tackling slopes, curbs and small steps, but a new breed laughs in the face of even the most extreme urban obstacles. World's most powerful mobility scooter The mighty Ziesel, an off-road mobility scooter that would give a Land Rover a run for its money. Fitted...

Breakdown

The bus is dead. Long live the bus

June 17, 2016

The number of miles covered by bus services in England outside London has plummeted by many millions over the last decade. By contrast, bus travel in London is on the up accounting for more than half of all bus journeys in England last year. However, some buses on certain routes in London now run at 4 mph, which is a brisk walking pace. A...

Environment

Buzzbike over free cycle scheme

June 15, 2016

Buzzbike is the young pretender of urban bicycle share – a scheme that allows you to use a stylish city bike for months at a time for free as long as you use it frequently enough. Cycle schemes should of course be an integral part of every city, but there’s always been a mismatch between London cool and the...

Cycling

Halfbike, twice the fun

June 14, 2016

Halfbike wants to bring fun to the way we travel with its leanable upright trike, a vehicle they believe will “awaken your natural instinct to move” It’s certainly different; a high-quality toy for grown-ups. According to Halfbike, the standing position 'brings you closer to natural walking and you control the...

Cycling