Laura Laker
@lauralaker.bsky.social
Journalist, author of Potholes and Pavements, cohost of @podstreetsahead.bsky.social
https://lauralaker.substack.com
https://lauralaker.substack.com
Reposted by Laura Laker
Got something you'd like to ask Ned, Adam and Laura for a future podcast? They would love to (try to) answer them! Post said questions below, or you can email them to [email protected]. Get in touch!
NEW POD EPISODE! 🚨 2026: the Journey so Far. @adamtranter.bsky.social @nedboulting.bsky.social and @lauralaker.bsky.social discuss local politics in the run up to the May elections, Ned's trip to India, and learnings from New York mayor Zohran Mamdani (& other mayors) shows.acast.com/streets-ahea...
2026: The Journey So Far | Streets Ahead
Free Parking, “Stalinist” Cities, and India’s First UCI Stage Race
shows.acast.com
February 5, 2026 at 12:13 PM
Got something you'd like to ask Ned, Adam and Laura for a future podcast? They would love to (try to) answer them! Post said questions below, or you can email them to [email protected]. Get in touch!
Reposted by Laura Laker
Excellent deep dive into the hard work of a local Councillor changing streets in their own north London community - and the cost they faced.
@lauralaker.bsky.social bsky.app/profile/laur...
@lauralaker.bsky.social bsky.app/profile/laur...
“I had to go in and face my colleagues who were saying, ‘Mike, what have you done?’”
A glimpse inside Haringey's street space transformation, featuring @mikehakata.bsky.social and @carlafrancome.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/lauralak...
A glimpse inside Haringey's street space transformation, featuring @mikehakata.bsky.social and @carlafrancome.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/lauralak...
Relentless pressure, threats, and apologies
Four years inside Haringey's street transformation
open.substack.com
February 5, 2026 at 12:04 PM
Excellent deep dive into the hard work of a local Councillor changing streets in their own north London community - and the cost they faced.
@lauralaker.bsky.social bsky.app/profile/laur...
@lauralaker.bsky.social bsky.app/profile/laur...
We're back for 2026 folks!
NEW POD EPISODE! 🚨 2026: the Journey so Far. @adamtranter.bsky.social @nedboulting.bsky.social and @lauralaker.bsky.social discuss local politics in the run up to the May elections, Ned's trip to India, and learnings from New York mayor Zohran Mamdani (& other mayors) shows.acast.com/streets-ahea...
2026: The Journey So Far | Streets Ahead
Free Parking, “Stalinist” Cities, and India’s First UCI Stage Race
shows.acast.com
February 4, 2026 at 1:43 PM
We're back for 2026 folks!
Reposted by Laura Laker
Nice thread here on the situation with the #WestHamParkLTN, which in another survey had satisfied 59% of residents and has had positive outcomes for congestion, safety, and air quality—but is still being sent back for reconsideration.
We naturally hope the decision makers won’t change their mind.
We naturally hope the decision makers won’t change their mind.
The committee has now sent the officers' decision to make the scheme permanent back to the council after members raised concerns that there wasn't a 'clear majority' in favour of keeping it.
In a council survey, 51% supported the LTN while 47% did not. mgov.newham.gov.uk/documents/s1...
In a council survey, 51% supported the LTN while 47% did not. mgov.newham.gov.uk/documents/s1...
mgov.newham.gov.uk
February 4, 2026 at 9:06 AM
Nice thread here on the situation with the #WestHamParkLTN, which in another survey had satisfied 59% of residents and has had positive outcomes for congestion, safety, and air quality—but is still being sent back for reconsideration.
We naturally hope the decision makers won’t change their mind.
We naturally hope the decision makers won’t change their mind.
“I had to go in and face my colleagues who were saying, ‘Mike, what have you done?’”
A glimpse inside Haringey's street space transformation, featuring @mikehakata.bsky.social and @carlafrancome.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/lauralak...
A glimpse inside Haringey's street space transformation, featuring @mikehakata.bsky.social and @carlafrancome.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/lauralak...
Relentless pressure, threats, and apologies
Four years inside Haringey's street transformation
open.substack.com
February 4, 2026 at 10:24 AM
“I had to go in and face my colleagues who were saying, ‘Mike, what have you done?’”
A glimpse inside Haringey's street space transformation, featuring @mikehakata.bsky.social and @carlafrancome.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/lauralak...
A glimpse inside Haringey's street space transformation, featuring @mikehakata.bsky.social and @carlafrancome.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/lauralak...
Amazes me how often this happens in London! And thanks for the intel :)
February 3, 2026 at 3:29 PM
Amazes me how often this happens in London! And thanks for the intel :)
It does look great - and will make such a difference connecting to Stratford from the north and Cycleway 6. It's just a shame they've 'closed' C6 for the last month or two, on Leyton Road, during roadworks. I've had to 'bunny hop' that kerb, and navigate parked vans, more than I'd like 🙌
February 3, 2026 at 2:39 PM
It does look great - and will make such a difference connecting to Stratford from the north and Cycleway 6. It's just a shame they've 'closed' C6 for the last month or two, on Leyton Road, during roadworks. I've had to 'bunny hop' that kerb, and navigate parked vans, more than I'd like 🙌
So sad to hear about the death of Waseem Zaffar. He joined us on the podcast's ninth episode and was a breath of fresh air, literally, campaigning for cleaner air for Birmingham residents. One of the good guys, with a steely resolve to help people; a real loss shows.acast.com/streets-ahea...
The West Midlands | Streets Ahead
shows.acast.com
February 2, 2026 at 2:48 PM
So sad to hear about the death of Waseem Zaffar. He joined us on the podcast's ninth episode and was a breath of fresh air, literally, campaigning for cleaner air for Birmingham residents. One of the good guys, with a steely resolve to help people; a real loss shows.acast.com/streets-ahea...
This is who runs this account
February 2, 2026 at 12:38 PM
This is who runs this account
NCN1 this week, Hackney Marshes, looking east
January 31, 2026 at 9:35 AM
NCN1 this week, Hackney Marshes, looking east
I didn't know that was a thing. Like a lot around motoring, regulation and compliance is very lax. Additional work/requirements for MOT centres, I understand, is avoided due to cost to businesses, but the result is this. And we all probably hear of centres that routinely overlook important stuff
January 30, 2026 at 12:04 PM
I didn't know that was a thing. Like a lot around motoring, regulation and compliance is very lax. Additional work/requirements for MOT centres, I understand, is avoided due to cost to businesses, but the result is this. And we all probably hear of centres that routinely overlook important stuff
Hopefully Alagna is on the mend - what a phenomenal voice and an amazing production (even from the cheap standing seats!). My friends and I had to make do with YouTube instead www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHyY...
"Nessun dorma" Roberto Alagna HD720
YouTube video by MasterplanHD
www.youtube.com
January 29, 2026 at 12:35 PM
Hopefully Alagna is on the mend - what a phenomenal voice and an amazing production (even from the cheap standing seats!). My friends and I had to make do with YouTube instead www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHyY...
In another dramatic turn this week I was at the Royal Opera House on Tuesday when this happened during a performance of Turandot... no Nessun Dorma, sadly, after the tenor fell ill before the final act, leading to a surprising substitution www.theguardian.com/music/2026/j...
Drama at the opera as Royal Opera chief steps in for sick tenor
Richard Hetherington forced to play Prince Calàf in Giacomo Puccini’s Turandot after French tenor Roberto Alagna taken ill
www.theguardian.com
January 29, 2026 at 12:33 PM
In another dramatic turn this week I was at the Royal Opera House on Tuesday when this happened during a performance of Turandot... no Nessun Dorma, sadly, after the tenor fell ill before the final act, leading to a surprising substitution www.theguardian.com/music/2026/j...
Exactly - and why there's general concern in the road safety world about the hundreds of thousands of these modifications passing drivers' MOTs each year. At night you drivers can barely see out, including side windows lauralaker.substack.com/p/hundreds-o...
'Hundreds of thousands' of illegal window tints sailing through MOTs per year
Dark tints impact driver visibility and increase risk but enforcement at MOT centres is currently discretionary
lauralaker.substack.com
January 29, 2026 at 11:47 AM
Exactly - and why there's general concern in the road safety world about the hundreds of thousands of these modifications passing drivers' MOTs each year. At night you drivers can barely see out, including side windows lauralaker.substack.com/p/hundreds-o...
*accelerator bash* is the policy equivalent of *hulk smash*?
I.e. an accelerator could maybe "unlock" a door if it hit it hard enough...
I.e. an accelerator could maybe "unlock" a door if it hit it hard enough...
January 29, 2026 at 11:46 AM
*accelerator bash* is the policy equivalent of *hulk smash*?
I.e. an accelerator could maybe "unlock" a door if it hit it hard enough...
I.e. an accelerator could maybe "unlock" a door if it hit it hard enough...
I'd guess, upon reflection, that because the driver was turning left, they probably looked right only before pulling out. Which would partly explain why they only stopped when I hit their wing mirror: classic "failed to look".
Well that was a shock: A driver with tinted windows just pulled out on me in the Olympic park near the velodrome as I was on the bike lane... they only stopped the car when my left hand/handlebar knocked in the left wing mirror and my front wheel met the paintwork 🥴
January 29, 2026 at 11:26 AM
I'd guess, upon reflection, that because the driver was turning left, they probably looked right only before pulling out. Which would partly explain why they only stopped when I hit their wing mirror: classic "failed to look".
Awful. I did a Substack post on this topic a while back lauralaker.substack.com/p/hundreds-o...
'Hundreds of thousands' of illegal window tints sailing through MOTs per year
Dark tints impact driver visibility and increase risk but enforcement at MOT centres is currently discretionary
lauralaker.substack.com
January 29, 2026 at 11:23 AM
Awful. I did a Substack post on this topic a while back lauralaker.substack.com/p/hundreds-o...
Reposted by Laura Laker
I'm proud to announce that the London Borough of Newham is a finalist at the Decarbonising Transport Awards 2026 for our work on the West Ham Park People Friendly Streets (LTN8). 🌱
🏆 Awards where Newham is a finalist:
🏆 Awards where Newham is a finalist:
January 29, 2026 at 10:17 AM
I'm proud to announce that the London Borough of Newham is a finalist at the Decarbonising Transport Awards 2026 for our work on the West Ham Park People Friendly Streets (LTN8). 🌱
🏆 Awards where Newham is a finalist:
🏆 Awards where Newham is a finalist:
I heard a voice from inside but couldn't see the driver, the windows were dark. They didn't get out, and I was worried about what they might do tbh, it's a dark road at night
January 28, 2026 at 7:28 PM
I heard a voice from inside but couldn't see the driver, the windows were dark. They didn't get out, and I was worried about what they might do tbh, it's a dark road at night