News

Cycle camera footage - a different kind of insurance

March 18, 2020

Running a cycle camera on your handlebars or helmet doesn't make the roads feel any safer, but you do almost immediately feel less helpless. In the event of a road traffic incident, video footage goes a long way towards guaranteeing legal redress - it's a cycle insurance of sorts. One of the great frustrations about cycling on British roads...

Cycling

Coronavirus chaos? Get on your bike

March 16, 2020

It's easy to become confused at the conflicting, and occasionally chaotic, advice surrounding the Coronovirus virus, but on one thing everyone agrees: a fit and healthy body is far better prepared to deal with illness of any kind. Couple that with quieter-than-usual roads and the need to avoid close contact with others and cycling starts to...

Cycling

E-scooters, electric bicycles, speed pedelecs and the law

March 16, 2020

The government has acknowledged that emerging technologies such as e-scooters are 'ripping up the rule book' and will consult on the rules required to allow the new technology to operate safely. Under plans announced by the transport secretary, Grant Shapps, e-scooters will initially be allowed in a series of 'future transport zones':...

Cycling

Cyclo Knitter to the rescue

March 13, 2020

Dutch design student George Barratt-Jones has a novel approach to keeping rail commuters warm while they wait on a draughty platform. He has built a pedal-powered knitting machine that can conjure up a scarf in five minutes. According to Barratt-Jones, "It gets you warm by moving, you are making something while you wait and in the end you...

Cycling

Tyre Mate up for grabs

March 13, 2020

Used by mechanics in bicycle workshops, the American-made Tyre Mate promises to pull the tightest of tyre beads over a rim without causing any damage to the tube, tyre or rim. It's lightweight and small enough to carry with you. According to the guys at the London Bike Kitchen, who sell the Tyre Mate for £17, "Just position the tool's rigid...

Cycling

Pavement Parking: A boil we seem unwilling to lance

March 12, 2020

As the government promises yet another consultation into pavement parking, we're left wondering whether this anti-social and dangerous behaviour will ever be dealt with. As well as being a menace for the disabled, elderly and vulnerable, pavement parking is a downright nuisance for everyone. On top of that, it damages footways and is a...

Cycling

Let's tackle CarOwnerVirus

March 4, 2020

The Coronavirus global death toll has just topped 3,000. When it reaches 3,561 it will equal the number of people killed on the roads in a single day. Clearly Coronavirus is a serious threat that is entirely deserving of all efforts to bring it under control, but why do we show such apathy towards another source of danger that kills 1.3...

Cycling

Citroën Ami electric car for £17 per month

March 4, 2020

As the world's cities wake up to the fact that they need to dramatically reduce the amount of pollution, danger and congestion caused by cars, motor manufacturers are scrabbling to reinterpret the idea of personal transport. For its part, Citroën is launching the Ami - a quirky electric vehicle that will cost less to run than a mobile...

Driving

Win your own air pollution monitor

March 4, 2020

Outdoor air pollution is responsible for 8.8m early deaths a year - higher even than the figure for smoking. It means that humans are losing three years of their lives on average, German researchers have found. Here in Britain the figure is 1.5 years. The study measured PM2.5 - atmospheric particulate matter (PM) that has a diameter of less...

Cycling

Stockholm Declaration links road safety to sustainable development

February 28, 2020

Road safety experts and ministers from 130 countries have resolved to tackle road danger, air pollution and the climate emergency by adopting 20mph limits wherever vulnerable road users and vehicles mix. Last week's global road safety conference resulted in the adoption of a 'Stockholm Declaration' – a list of 18 resolutions linking road...

Cycling