Laura Laker
@lauralaker.bsky.social
Journalist, author of Potholes and Pavements, cohost of @podstreetsahead.bsky.social
https://lauralaker.substack.com
https://lauralaker.substack.com
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...
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
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...
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".
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:
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 🥴
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 ✨
Reposted by Laura Laker
And in case you missed it, my Substack post on this and other handbrake turns in transport policy in London, is here. I made this free but if you enjoyed it, consider subscribing. It takes time to write and research these posts and doing them for free costs me money 🙌 substack.com/home/post/p-...
The march of progress?
...and the political hokey cokey around cars
substack.com
January 23, 2026 at 12:37 PM
And in case you missed it, my Substack post on this and other handbrake turns in transport policy in London, is here. I made this free but if you enjoyed it, consider subscribing. It takes time to write and research these posts and doing them for free costs me money 🙌 substack.com/home/post/p-...
Reposted by Laura Laker
Great article by @lauralaker.bsky.social about what might happen in Newham after the elections. After a few years of being very progressive on active travel, will the council backpedal on their efforts?
lauralaker.substack.com/p/the-march-...
@newhamcyclists.uk
lauralaker.substack.com/p/the-march-...
@newhamcyclists.uk
January 23, 2026 at 10:28 AM
Great article by @lauralaker.bsky.social about what might happen in Newham after the elections. After a few years of being very progressive on active travel, will the council backpedal on their efforts?
lauralaker.substack.com/p/the-march-...
@newhamcyclists.uk
lauralaker.substack.com/p/the-march-...
@newhamcyclists.uk
Speaking of which, I have some thoughts on this topic, from my former home borough, where the Labour mayoral candidate is proposing a £20m giveaway for car-owning residents (i.e. 52% of households) lauralaker.substack.com/p/the-march-...
January 22, 2026 at 1:58 PM
Speaking of which, I have some thoughts on this topic, from my former home borough, where the Labour mayoral candidate is proposing a £20m giveaway for car-owning residents (i.e. 52% of households) lauralaker.substack.com/p/the-march-...
This is significant news for schemes delivered across London in the last nine years. It means politicians can't simply 'rip out' LTNs and bike lanes they don't like. Some of those running in May's elections are going to have to rethink their pledges
www.standard.co.uk/news/london/...
www.standard.co.uk/news/london/...
East London residents win sensational victory in fight to save low-traffic schemes
London-wide implications for LTNs as Court of Appeal rules that Tower Hamlets mayor Lutfur Rahman acted unlawfully in trying to ignore Sadiq Khan’s transport masterplan
www.standard.co.uk
January 22, 2026 at 1:37 PM
This is significant news for schemes delivered across London in the last nine years. It means politicians can't simply 'rip out' LTNs and bike lanes they don't like. Some of those running in May's elections are going to have to rethink their pledges
www.standard.co.uk/news/london/...
www.standard.co.uk/news/london/...
Reposted by Laura Laker
I heard a story on the radio that I really liked, and I wrote to the reporter to express my appreciation. This is the reply I received:
"Thank you David - your appreciation note is rare and came right when I needed it."
We should do this more often. Journalism is so important to a free society.
"Thank you David - your appreciation note is rare and came right when I needed it."
We should do this more often. Journalism is so important to a free society.
January 19, 2026 at 11:57 PM
I heard a story on the radio that I really liked, and I wrote to the reporter to express my appreciation. This is the reply I received:
"Thank you David - your appreciation note is rare and came right when I needed it."
We should do this more often. Journalism is so important to a free society.
"Thank you David - your appreciation note is rare and came right when I needed it."
We should do this more often. Journalism is so important to a free society.
I'm doing a silly thing for charity, an Abba-themed group dance routine to raise money for the Fiorentini Foundation, which helps children from disadvantaged backgrounds access the performing arts... for their 25th anniversary. If you're minded to give fiorentinifoundation.enthuse.com/pf/laura-laker
Laura Laker's fundraising page
I'm joining a lip synch Abba-themed dance medley challenge in March, at the Hackney Empire, to raise money for the Fiorentini Foundation. The idea is to learn some choreography in a day, based on the
fiorentinifoundation.enthuse.com
January 20, 2026 at 10:20 AM
I'm doing a silly thing for charity, an Abba-themed group dance routine to raise money for the Fiorentini Foundation, which helps children from disadvantaged backgrounds access the performing arts... for their 25th anniversary. If you're minded to give fiorentinifoundation.enthuse.com/pf/laura-laker
Reposted by Laura Laker
A Change Is Gonna Come
YouTube video by Sam Cooke - Topic
www.youtube.com
January 19, 2026 at 7:33 PM
How on earth this happened I have no idea, but if you'd like to see a hire bike called Laura Laker* it is apparently a popularity contest, and you can place your vote at [email protected]
*It may or may not go around London sporting a curly wig
www.standard.co.uk/news/transpo...
*It may or may not go around London sporting a curly wig
www.standard.co.uk/news/transpo...
January 13, 2026 at 3:54 PM
How on earth this happened I have no idea, but if you'd like to see a hire bike called Laura Laker* it is apparently a popularity contest, and you can place your vote at [email protected]
*It may or may not go around London sporting a curly wig
www.standard.co.uk/news/transpo...
*It may or may not go around London sporting a curly wig
www.standard.co.uk/news/transpo...
There was no rain forecast, and yet ...
January 12, 2026 at 10:57 AM
There was no rain forecast, and yet ...
Just finished reading this wonderful book @nedboulting.bsky.social . What a treat, following this great, accidental adventure...I laughed out loud, was amazed at points, and I admit to shedding a little tear at the end. A fantastic read 👏
(And thanks to Bloomsbury for sending me this copy)
(And thanks to Bloomsbury for sending me this copy)
January 11, 2026 at 5:01 PM
Just finished reading this wonderful book @nedboulting.bsky.social . What a treat, following this great, accidental adventure...I laughed out loud, was amazed at points, and I admit to shedding a little tear at the end. A fantastic read 👏
(And thanks to Bloomsbury for sending me this copy)
(And thanks to Bloomsbury for sending me this copy)
I deactivated my X account yesterday. Good riddance to that cesspit
NEW: Liz Kendall, the technology secretary, says Ofcom would have the "full backing" of government if it opted to block access to X in the UK (but it's a decision for Ofcom)
January 9, 2026 at 4:00 PM
I deactivated my X account yesterday. Good riddance to that cesspit
The government's Road Safety Strategy was just published. Could it spell the end of Ghost Plates? Find out, here lauralaker.substack.com/p/goodbye-to...
Goodbye to ghosts on the road?
Government takes on vehicle reg plate tampering
lauralaker.substack.com
January 7, 2026 at 12:28 PM
The government's Road Safety Strategy was just published. Could it spell the end of Ghost Plates? Find out, here lauralaker.substack.com/p/goodbye-to...