Laura Laker
@lauralaker.bsky.social
Journalist, author of Potholes and Pavements, cohost of @podstreetsahead.bsky.social
https://lauralaker.substack.com
https://lauralaker.substack.com
Long-term investment works: Ten years ago I stood on Vauxhall Bridge as the previous mayor opened the first of London's protected cycle superhighways (and one man emphatically flipped him the bird). Now there's 1.5m cycling trips PER DAY in London (up 12.7% on 2024) www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
November 25, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Long-term investment works: Ten years ago I stood on Vauxhall Bridge as the previous mayor opened the first of London's protected cycle superhighways (and one man emphatically flipped him the bird). Now there's 1.5m cycling trips PER DAY in London (up 12.7% on 2024) www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Love this www.instagram.com/reel/DQrzAkb... racing the new Superloop on foot.
Izzett describes pedestrian crossing wait times as 'enemies of progress'
Izzett describes pedestrian crossing wait times as 'enemies of progress'
Jordan Izzett on Instagram: "No chance this bus wasn’t going to get tested and approved by yours truly🙂↕️✅
Waterloo -> Lewisham😮💨📍
I’ll be shamelessly unleashing my bus series on IG😉
#fyp #runnin...
3,432 likes, 127 comments - izzettj on November 5, 2025: "No chance this bus wasn’t going to get tested and approved by yours truly🙂↕️✅
Waterloo -> Lewisham😮💨📍
I’ll be shamelessly unleashing my bu...
www.instagram.com
November 14, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Love this www.instagram.com/reel/DQrzAkb... racing the new Superloop on foot.
Izzett describes pedestrian crossing wait times as 'enemies of progress'
Izzett describes pedestrian crossing wait times as 'enemies of progress'
I FOI'd English councils whether they use legal land purchase powers to create traffic-free paths. Just 1% said they have successfully.
Why is something that's so common for roads almost never done for cycle routes? And what does it mean for cycling?
lauralaker.substack.com/p/cycleways-...
Why is something that's so common for roads almost never done for cycle routes? And what does it mean for cycling?
lauralaker.substack.com/p/cycleways-...
November 13, 2025 at 2:18 PM
I FOI'd English councils whether they use legal land purchase powers to create traffic-free paths. Just 1% said they have successfully.
Why is something that's so common for roads almost never done for cycle routes? And what does it mean for cycling?
lauralaker.substack.com/p/cycleways-...
Why is something that's so common for roads almost never done for cycle routes? And what does it mean for cycling?
lauralaker.substack.com/p/cycleways-...
Bluesky hivemind: which topic(s) would you like to hear us at @podstreetsahead.bsky.social discuss next?
November 11, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Bluesky hivemind: which topic(s) would you like to hear us at @podstreetsahead.bsky.social discuss next?
In which I visited Milton Keynes, and committed a faux pas. And had some thoughts about the city's 200 miles of cycle routes, known as the redways lauralaker.substack.com/p/milton-key...
Milton Keynes, land of cycling dreams?
And some illicit perching on concrete cows
lauralaker.substack.com
October 24, 2025 at 3:41 PM
In which I visited Milton Keynes, and committed a faux pas. And had some thoughts about the city's 200 miles of cycle routes, known as the redways lauralaker.substack.com/p/milton-key...
What a lovely event. Trusting this leopard with a set of yellow and red cards was a dubious choice, though. Option to donate to the excellent XO bikes still open www.justgiving.com/campaign/don...
October 18, 2025 at 1:56 PM
What a lovely event. Trusting this leopard with a set of yellow and red cards was a dubious choice, though. Option to donate to the excellent XO bikes still open www.justgiving.com/campaign/don...
It seems to me too many of us drastically underestimate the damage a vehicle can do when we're driving:
The 49-year-old driver said he had seen her, but did not know why he hit her, claiming he would ask himself the question for his "whole life".
The 49-year-old driver said he had seen her, but did not know why he hit her, claiming he would ask himself the question for his "whole life".
Cyclist Rebecca Comins' death investigated by Crash Detectives - BBC News
Rebecca Comins, described as a "fierce competitor", had reached speeds of up to 30mph.
share.google
October 15, 2025 at 2:21 PM
It seems to me too many of us drastically underestimate the damage a vehicle can do when we're driving:
The 49-year-old driver said he had seen her, but did not know why he hit her, claiming he would ask himself the question for his "whole life".
The 49-year-old driver said he had seen her, but did not know why he hit her, claiming he would ask himself the question for his "whole life".
Reposted by Laura Laker
Something like this?
October 10, 2025 at 11:43 AM
Something like this?
A bit more of a personal essay this week, some musings on cycling for fun lauralaker.substack.com/p/off-the-road
Off the road
A week of illness and a chance to look back
lauralaker.substack.com
October 10, 2025 at 11:30 AM
A bit more of a personal essay this week, some musings on cycling for fun lauralaker.substack.com/p/off-the-road
A basic artists' income trial in Ireland. For every €1 of public money invested in the pilot, society received €1.39 in return. www.gov.ie/en/departmen...
October 7, 2025 at 10:03 AM
A basic artists' income trial in Ireland. For every €1 of public money invested in the pilot, society received €1.39 in return. www.gov.ie/en/departmen...
British Transport police's Ian Drummond-Smith said on BBC R4 Today that within two years AI will help analyse hours of cctv footage to help solve bike theft. Lovely idea if the footage is good enough in the first place
October 7, 2025 at 8:32 AM
British Transport police's Ian Drummond-Smith said on BBC R4 Today that within two years AI will help analyse hours of cctv footage to help solve bike theft. Lovely idea if the footage is good enough in the first place
Reposted by Laura Laker
NEW EPISODE! 🚨 Lisbon’s Streets and the People Trying to Change Them
Lisbon is a beautiful city with a reputation for being a safe place. That's true from one lens, but look deeper and you'll discover a city with one of the worst road safety records in Europe.
shows.acast.com/streets-ahea...
Lisbon is a beautiful city with a reputation for being a safe place. That's true from one lens, but look deeper and you'll discover a city with one of the worst road safety records in Europe.
shows.acast.com/streets-ahea...
Lisbon’s Streets and the People Trying to Change Them | Streets Ahead
shows.acast.com
October 7, 2025 at 8:14 AM
NEW EPISODE! 🚨 Lisbon’s Streets and the People Trying to Change Them
Lisbon is a beautiful city with a reputation for being a safe place. That's true from one lens, but look deeper and you'll discover a city with one of the worst road safety records in Europe.
shows.acast.com/streets-ahea...
Lisbon is a beautiful city with a reputation for being a safe place. That's true from one lens, but look deeper and you'll discover a city with one of the worst road safety records in Europe.
shows.acast.com/streets-ahea...
🚨New @podstreetsahead.bsky.social podcast alert! This time, we recorded from Lisbon, on the city's streets, and talking to the people trying to change them shows.acast.com/streets-ahea...
Lisbon’s Streets and the People Trying to Change Them | Streets Ahead
shows.acast.com
October 7, 2025 at 7:35 AM
🚨New @podstreetsahead.bsky.social podcast alert! This time, we recorded from Lisbon, on the city's streets, and talking to the people trying to change them shows.acast.com/streets-ahea...
Notes from Lisbon - and its curious transport conundrum
Lisbon: there may be hills
A study visit with a difference
lauralaker.substack.com
October 5, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Notes from Lisbon - and its curious transport conundrum
In case you missed it, I've been looking into bike storage solutions - and here are some of the best options.
No room for your bike? Here are 13 clever, space-saving storage ideas for indoors and out www.theguardian.com/thefilter/20...
No room for your bike? Here are 13 clever, space-saving storage ideas for indoors and out www.theguardian.com/thefilter/20...
No room for your bike? Here are 13 clever, space-saving storage ideas for indoors and out
From hallway hooks to garden fortresses, here’s where to keep your bike so it’s safe, dry and out of the way
www.theguardian.com
September 28, 2025 at 1:17 PM
In case you missed it, I've been looking into bike storage solutions - and here are some of the best options.
No room for your bike? Here are 13 clever, space-saving storage ideas for indoors and out www.theguardian.com/thefilter/20...
No room for your bike? Here are 13 clever, space-saving storage ideas for indoors and out www.theguardian.com/thefilter/20...
Two screenshots of BBC articles about floating bus stops, the picture editors have inadvertently used the same image to illustrate what one is, and what one isn't. The most recent article shows the wrong type, the one that isn't under DfT/TfL review, twice www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
September 22, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Two screenshots of BBC articles about floating bus stops, the picture editors have inadvertently used the same image to illustrate what one is, and what one isn't. The most recent article shows the wrong type, the one that isn't under DfT/TfL review, twice www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
More words on that, here substack.com/home/post/p-...
September 18, 2025 at 11:45 AM
More words on that, here substack.com/home/post/p-...
Reposted by Laura Laker
I've been fiddling with the heating today which reminded me that not enough brits seem to know about this concept:
if you have a combi boiler, setting it to a lower flow temperature (and having it on a bit longer to compensate) can mean you save a lot (~5%+) of gas
www.which.co.uk/news/article...
if you have a combi boiler, setting it to a lower flow temperature (and having it on a bit longer to compensate) can mean you save a lot (~5%+) of gas
www.which.co.uk/news/article...
One simple way to adjust your boiler to lower your heating bill - Which?
If you aren't using your boiler efficiently, your home is more expensive to heat – see how flow temperature can make a difference to your gas bill
www.which.co.uk
September 16, 2025 at 2:32 PM
I've been fiddling with the heating today which reminded me that not enough brits seem to know about this concept:
if you have a combi boiler, setting it to a lower flow temperature (and having it on a bit longer to compensate) can mean you save a lot (~5%+) of gas
www.which.co.uk/news/article...
if you have a combi boiler, setting it to a lower flow temperature (and having it on a bit longer to compensate) can mean you save a lot (~5%+) of gas
www.which.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Laura Laker
“We’ve normalised horror” in #Gaza, our JulietteTouma tells @newhumanitarian.bsky.social
“There's been impunity – and that has been going on for a long, long, long time… This carte blanche has got us, all of us, where we are right now.”
This must stop.
“There's been impunity – and that has been going on for a long, long, long time… This carte blanche has got us, all of us, where we are right now.”
This must stop.
Israel’s mass killing of Gaza aid seekers: An undeniable pattern of escalating atrocity crimes
The nearly 200 attacks we recorded contribute to the growing evidence that Israel is committing war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.
www.thenewhumanitarian.org
September 16, 2025 at 9:00 AM
“We’ve normalised horror” in #Gaza, our JulietteTouma tells @newhumanitarian.bsky.social
“There's been impunity – and that has been going on for a long, long, long time… This carte blanche has got us, all of us, where we are right now.”
This must stop.
“There's been impunity – and that has been going on for a long, long, long time… This carte blanche has got us, all of us, where we are right now.”
This must stop.
I visited a brand-new mile-long stretch of rural path last week nr Shepton Mallet as volunteers and contractors did the final touches. An incredible community effort to help complete the 76-mile Somerset Circle, with John Grimshaw (pictured) and Caroline Levett helping lead it (sound is poor, sorry)
September 16, 2025 at 7:26 AM
I visited a brand-new mile-long stretch of rural path last week nr Shepton Mallet as volunteers and contractors did the final touches. An incredible community effort to help complete the 76-mile Somerset Circle, with John Grimshaw (pictured) and Caroline Levett helping lead it (sound is poor, sorry)
Reposted by Laura Laker
NEW EPISODE!🚨 @lauralaker.bsky.social speaks to four great guests across three continents about the role of women in the world of cycling.
Listen here, or wherever you get your podcasts 👇
shows.acast.com/streets-ahea...
Listen here, or wherever you get your podcasts 👇
shows.acast.com/streets-ahea...
Women Leading the Way | Streets Ahead
Women around the world leading in cycling, adventure, the cycle industry and safer streets
shows.acast.com
September 12, 2025 at 5:12 PM
NEW EPISODE!🚨 @lauralaker.bsky.social speaks to four great guests across three continents about the role of women in the world of cycling.
Listen here, or wherever you get your podcasts 👇
shows.acast.com/streets-ahea...
Listen here, or wherever you get your podcasts 👇
shows.acast.com/streets-ahea...
New @podstreetsahead.bsky.social episode alert! 🚨 this time, it's about women leading the way in cycling and safer streets pca.st/episode/514f...
Women Leading the Way
pca.st
September 11, 2025 at 7:42 PM
New @podstreetsahead.bsky.social episode alert! 🚨 this time, it's about women leading the way in cycling and safer streets pca.st/episode/514f...
Found the feed station at the Tour of Britain. Delighted
September 7, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Found the feed station at the Tour of Britain. Delighted
A glimpse into the murky world of illegal window tinting 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
September 5, 2025 at 10:32 AM
A glimpse into the murky world of illegal window tinting lauralaker.substack.com/p/hundreds-o...
Reposted by Laura Laker
Can't beat a potential public participation road danger reduction measure through public opinion and evidencing. Changing just a few words in a couple of manuals would reduce demand on society and the police significantly.... 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
September 5, 2025 at 10:27 AM
Can't beat a potential public participation road danger reduction measure through public opinion and evidencing. Changing just a few words in a couple of manuals would reduce demand on society and the police significantly.... lauralaker.substack.com/p/hundreds-o...