News

We already know that the fuel economy figures quoted in car ads can bear little relation to real world driving, but did you realise that even the car itself may not be real? The Blackbird is an electric powered car able to alter its physical and driving characteristics before using powerful computers to shroud itself in virtual bodywork...

Motorists could be soothed by roads that play a tune when passed over by vehicles driving within the speed limit. A road leading to Mount Fuji has been fitted with rumble strips that play a tune when driven over. The strips are paced at intervals that play a song called "Miagete goran yoru no hoshi wo" by Kyu Sakamoto. The suburu highway is...

The EU has not escaped criticism on its environmental policies, but as in so many other areas of its remit, the net results were a significant benefit. Thirty years ago Britain had the highest sulphur dioxide emissions in the EU as well as shocking water pollution around our coastline – we were considered the dirty man of Europe. So while...

Blubel is a new handlebar-mounted satnav for cyclists that navigates your every turn and learns from you and the cycling community to find the safest routes. Cyclists have not developed a reliance on satnavs. Maybe we’re creatures of habit who usually stick to the same local routes. Maybe it’s because getting...

From its humble beginnings in a San Francisco loft, online property rental platform Airbnb now offers its 60 million users the chance to ‘live’ – even if only for a night - in over 57,000 cities throughout the world. With more and more people booking through Airbnb, and the ever-present importance of having adequate travel insurance in...

Sherlock is a hidden GPS tracker for bicycles that allows you to locate your bike at any time. Tipping the scales at 50 grams, Sherlock is small enough to be installed easily and securely within the handlebars of your bicycle. Hidden behind plain handlebar plugs, the tracker is invisible to the thief who...

With festival season in full flow and British summer doing what it does best, laugh in the face of muddy campsites with this backpack that boasts a built-in chair. The backpack allows you to carry 47 litres of camping gear, and when you are ready to take the weight off, quickly transforms into a comfortable seat measuring 35 x 27 x 50 cm....

The number of miles covered by bus services in England outside London has plummeted by many millions over the last decade. By contrast, bus travel in London is on the up accounting for more than half of all bus journeys in England last year. However, some buses on certain routes in London now run at 4 mph, which is a brisk walking pace. A...

Of the 300,000 mobility scooters in Britain, most are surprisingly capable at tackling slopes, curbs and small steps, but a new breed laughs in the face of even the most extreme urban obstacles. World's most powerful mobility scooter The mighty Ziesel, an off-road mobility scooter that would give a Land Rover a run for its money. Fitted...

The ETA has been voted to be ethical in Britain for the second year running by the Good Shopping Guide. Beating household-name insurance companies such as John Lewis and the Co-op, the ETA earned an ethical company index score of 89. The ETA was established in 1990 as an ethical provider of green, reliable travel services. Twenty six years...