News

Pollution lowest in 20yrs following Covid

April 1, 2020

London's polluted air has improved so dramatically since Covid-19 restrictions on travel that the machines used to measure toxicity have flagged the anomalous readings as a possible fault. Road traffic and building works have slowed dramatically over the last two weeks. As a result, levels of nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and...

Cycling

Help, I'm new to cycling: Back to bicycle basics

March 31, 2020

Cycling is a simple pleasure – a bike can be acquired for next to nothing and you don’t require a licence or any specialist equipment. However, whatever type of cyclist you are, it pays to know the basics. We've spoken to countless newbies over the last few years as part of our Back on a Bike project. How to avoid getting your bike pinched,...

Cycling

Grow a bamboo bicycle

March 31, 2020

Michael Gove said last week that visiting an allotment seemed a perfectly sensible thing to do given the current restrictions. He won't have had in mind, but people have taken to growing their own bicycles. Bicycles built from bamboo are nothing new. However, despite the fact they offer a sustainable and practical alternative to steel it's...

Cycling

Bicycle boom time for Brompton

March 30, 2020

While countless businesses languish as a result of covid-19, others are seeing their sales speed up. Perhaps it's due to people seeking a new way to exercise, or taking advantage of quieter roads, but it's estimated that sales of bicycles are up by around fifteen per cent. "People are thinking, I want to have independence," says Will...

Cycling

Solar-powered battery charger for cars

March 26, 2020

The fact millions of cars across Britain are currently sitting idle is great for the environment, but not so good for the cars themselves as batteries may begin to lose their charge. Solar-powered battery chargers are inexpensive and easy to use. Simply place one on your dashboard and plug into your 12v socket. Be aware that running your...

Driving

Coronavirus Latest: MOT tests suspended

March 25, 2020

From 30 March 2020, MOT due dates for cars, motorcycles and light vans will be extended by 6 months. This is being done to help prevent the spread of coronavirus. You do not need to do anything to extend your vehicle’s MOT expiry date if it’s on or after 30 March 2020. Your vehicle will be automatically given a 6-month MOT exemption. This...

Driving

How does coronavirus / covid-19 affect my breakdown cover?

March 25, 2020

Coronavirus is posing challenges for us all, but by following Government advice and our own health and safety protocols we continue to provide the best possible service for all our customers. ETA breakdown assistance in Britain We remain fully operational and are ready to help you when you need us. Simply call the 24-hour assistance number...

General News

Coronavirus and a new golden age of cycling

March 24, 2020

The Coronavirus curfew has drastically reduced traffic volumes and thereby unintentionally created a cycling paradise on many roads. Gone are the queues of idling traffic, aggression of impatient commuters. The accompanying noise, pollution and danger have been replaced by something approaching tranquillity. What better conditions for...

Cycling

Cycling, community spirit and Copenhagen

March 24, 2020

If there's a silver lining to the Coronavirus curfew, it’s that in many areas it’s renewing a sense of community spirit. It seems that when we're not fighting over toilet roll, we're setting up street WhatsApp groups to share food and monitor the vulnerable. It's possible that this small step towards collectivism might endure beyond the...

Cycling

Old-fashioned (and green) cleaning hack

March 19, 2020

The chemicals you use to clean your home day-to-day can have a detrimental effect on the environment - not least because they invariably end up in the water supply. And while many cleaning products are now marketed as environmentally benign, invariably they come in plastic bottles – just one aspect of their production process and product...

Environment