Laura Laker
@lauralaker.bsky.social
Journalist, author of Potholes and Pavements, cohost of @podstreetsahead.bsky.social
https://lauralaker.substack.com
https://lauralaker.substack.com
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
Agree! Those tints are so dangerous
January 28, 2026 at 7:10 PM
Agree! Those tints are so dangerous
I didn't, I'm basically Iron Man. Amazingly they hit me just hard enough only to ping in the wing mirror using my hand/ handlebar, and I came to a stop on my feet
January 28, 2026 at 7:10 PM
I didn't, I'm basically Iron Man. Amazingly they hit me just hard enough only to ping in the wing mirror using my hand/ handlebar, and I came to a stop on my feet
Thanks Gary, it appears so, thankfully 🙏
January 28, 2026 at 6:49 PM
Thanks Gary, it appears so, thankfully 🙏
Drivers at the junction with Abercrombie Rd are usually pretty clear that the big, brand new bright blue painted bike lane requires them to give way but not this person, apparently 🤷♀️ luckily there's no apparent damage to me or the bike
January 28, 2026 at 6:47 PM
Drivers at the junction with Abercrombie Rd are usually pretty clear that the big, brand new bright blue painted bike lane requires them to give way but not this person, apparently 🤷♀️ luckily there's no apparent damage to me or the bike
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 28, 2026 at 6:44 PM
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 🥴
Thanks for your efforts on this - it's much appreciated. The previous setup was an absolute nonsense!
January 25, 2026 at 7:25 PM
Thanks for your efforts on this - it's much appreciated. The previous setup was an absolute nonsense!
Reposted by Laura Laker
Lord, it was a trial to fight to get this built - but it was built, and it’s GREAT! Safe, direct, convenient, accessible, and attractive, everything new cycling infrastructure should be ✨
Also great to see a parallel crossing on C16 to get from Honour Lea Avenue into the Olympic Park.
January 25, 2026 at 2:58 PM
Lord, it was a trial to fight to get this built - but it was built, and it’s GREAT! Safe, direct, convenient, accessible, and attractive, everything new cycling infrastructure should be ✨
Exactly - thanks Roger. I tried to make that point, though perhaps not clearly enough, in the thread!
January 25, 2026 at 7:22 PM
Exactly - thanks Roger. I tried to make that point, though perhaps not clearly enough, in the thread!
And it's worth noting that Newham Council has delivered some outstanding cycling infrastructure in the last couple of years - including more of the exciting Romford Road cycleway (growing again this year). The ever excellent John has the highlights, from 3:20 here www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdAz...
🚲 Why 2026 will be amazing for cycling in London
YouTube video by London cycle routes
www.youtube.com
January 23, 2026 at 1:50 PM
And it's worth noting that Newham Council has delivered some outstanding cycling infrastructure in the last couple of years - including more of the exciting Romford Road cycleway (growing again this year). The ever excellent John has the highlights, from 3:20 here www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdAz...
Congratulations John!
January 23, 2026 at 1:33 PM
Congratulations John!