News

Cyclists given traffic light controllers

December 11, 2015

Stop start city riding is a thing of the past for the 200 cyclists issued with electronic traffic light controllers to automatically turn stop lights green. Alongside Santander, Issy‐les‐Moulineaux, Athens and Genoa, Aarhus in Denmark is taking part in the EU's RADICAL programme to introduce high tech solutions to city planning. And radical...

Cycling

Is nostalgia the saviour of electric bicycles?

December 11, 2015

Lohner Stroler electric bicycles are designed to look like the small commuter motorcycles of the 1950s. And given the ubiquity of the retro-styled Vespa in today’s major European cities, perhaps the Austrian company is onto something. If commuters are to be convinced the electric bicycle is more than a toy for weekends, the answer might be...

Cycling

Flux: The largest bicycle rear light in the world

December 8, 2015

The FLUX is a waterproof, 29-litre rucksack that also happens to be the largest bicycle rear light in the world. Urban cyclists have taken to attaching lights to their bags, but the FLUX takes the idea to a new level. Light from a bank of LEDs is dispersed by a fibre optic panel measuring 30 cm by 10 cm. The USB-rechargeable light can be...

Cycling

Zebra crossing vs van (crossing wins)

December 4, 2015

Engineers in China who left a length of steel cable lying across a busy road inadvertently created a novel way of protecting their local zebra crossing. A group of approaching vehicles, that had no intention of stopping for the pedestrians, were picked up and tossed aside like toys. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhuYzIQ1Zos Why requests...

Breakdown

How do you avoid car door danger?

December 3, 2015

The Dooring Alert System (DAS) is a new gizmo that aims to tackle car door danger. Flashing lights fitted inside a car's rear window and wing mirror alert the approaching cyclist that a door may open into their path. The device will soon be available for pre-order via Kickstarter, but the immediate solution to the peril of opening car doors...

Cycling

Injured cyclists seeking compensation shortchanged by George Osborne

December 2, 2015

In a populist move to reduce insurance premiums for drivers, changes to the personal injury claims process proposed by George Osborne are likely to have a detrimental effect on injured cyclists seeking compensation. The government plans to remove the right to recover general damages for soft tissue injuries in an attempt to stop spurious...

Cycling

Test your knowledge about cycling and the law

December 1, 2015

Test your knowledge of the rules, regulations and responsibilities that govern cycling on British roads in the short quiz below, or visit our Cycling and the Law pages. If you have questions related to cycling and the law that you would like answered by our legal team, please post them at the bottom of this page. [playbuzz-item...

Cycling

Curve: Stylish and cheap bicycle lights

November 27, 2015

The Curve rear light is the latest offering from Bookman - specialists in stylish and functional bike accessories. The Cree LED puts out 37 lumens and runs continuously for up to 24 hours. The light costs around £25 and the USB charger, which recharges the batteries from empty in only 2 hours, will save a small fortune in batteries. The...

Cycling

Four million reasons why the world should commute by Piaggio Wi-Bike

November 27, 2015

The Piaggio Wi-Bike is a glimpse of how the world should get to work. If you are one of the four million British commuters who travel less than three miles to work by car, and you're unable or unwilling to ditch four wheels in favour of a conventional bicycle, electric assist offers an ideal alternative. If you've never ridden an electric...

Cycling

Volvo will pay for damage caused by driverless cars

November 27, 2015

Ahead of a major trial of autonomous vehicle on public roads in Sweden comes news that Volvo will take responsibility for damage caused by its driverless cars. In 2017, 100 drivers in the Swedish city of Gothenburg will each receive a Volvo XC90 which has the capability to drive itself. Volvo will not be the first car maker to have tested...

Breakdown