News

On building sites, strict safety rules protect workers and the public from lorries. On UK streets, we accept deadly risks. Is it time for a 15mph cap?

‍

A new study shows why e-bikes must be treated as their own mode of transport. UK planners still lump them in with traditional bikes – and risk squandering their potential.

We imagined a fourgonette-style runabout; instead we got a perfectly ordinary folder. Car brands entering the bike market can do better. Here’s how bikes with real safety, load capacity and family-first design could replace short car trips - will an auto brand ever take bikes seriously?

‍

Unclaimed prizes don’t go to waste – they’re saved up in our cycling mystery box. Enter this week’s draw for a chance to win free cycling gear.

From worried dogs to imagined jewel heists, objections to cycle lanes often tell us more about our fear of change than about cycling itself.

‍

Helsinki’s year without a single road death was no accident. Slower speeds, enforced by cameras, saved lives - just as they once did in the UK. The challenge is whether we have the political courage to do it again.

‍

The UK’s Cycle to Work scheme helps a few hundred thousand people a year and gives bigger cash savings to higher-rate taxpayers. Waiving VAT would give everyone 20% off at the till, open access to low-paid and self-employed workers, and - despite £400–£600m in foregone VAT - deliver recurring health, decongestion and carbon benefits. Add targeted vouchers, as France does locally, to lock in equity without a blank cheque.

‍

There’s a silent revolution rolling through our streets - or at least trying to. Cargo bikes, those load-hauling, kid-carrying, delivery-boosting wonders, are capturing the imagination of families, businesses and anyone weary of traffic jams and petrol bills. Cleaner, cheaper and surprisingly fun to ride, they’re becoming an increasingly common sight in forward-thinking cities. In the UK, though, would-be riders are thwarted by barriers that could - and should - be fixed. But here’s the hopeful part: every obstacle in the cargo bike’s path is solvable with a little political will and a lot of common sense.

‍

changes to the law that could allow illegal e-bikes to be crushed within 48 hours make for strong headlines – but it's cars that cause the vast majority of road deaths. Real progress comes from curbing car danger through 20mph limits, safer lorries, and cleaner air.

‍

Punctures are the perennial bugbear of cyclists, but slime self-sealing inner tubes can fix small flats before you even notice them. We explore the pros and cons – plus, enter our giveaway to win a pair in your size.

‍