News

Motorists and cyclists frustrated by potholes can take hope from an automated concrete paving machine that can lay down stretches of road that are hard wearing and quick and easy to repair. Concrete paved roads do not suffer from potholes in the same way as asphalt covered streets and broken bricks can be replaced individually if need be....

With reports that two Icelandic volcanoes are “primed to erupt”, holiday makers are being urged to check that their travel insurance policy will cover such an event. According to a report in this week’s Sunday Times, providers including Columbus Direct, Virgin, Admiral and the AA exclude disruption caused by volcanic eruption. Travel...

If re-assembling your bicycle - or anything else for that matter - after an afternoon’s tinkering, ever results in leftover components, you will appreciate Things Come Apart a recently-published book by Thames & Hudson. Each photograph by Todd McLellan interprets the knuckle-grazing frustration child-like joy of taking something apart...

A luxury caravan that’s designed to piggyback on a small van promises far more versatility than a conventional motorhome. There has been a resurgence of interest in camping and the staycation - holidays that involve no travel abroad - but what if the idea of sleeping under canvas doesn't appeal and you can’t justify the expense of a...

A skateboard may not be the usual choice for those over the age of 15, but a new design of battery-powered board may be ideal for plugging gaps in transport between homes and shops, railway stations or bus stops. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, but it’s the last bit of any trip that also proves a challenge for those...

A smart-looking shirt that requires no washing or ironing in order to remain wrinkle and odour free for 100 days could be a sartorial Holy Grail for cycle commuters the world over. The challenge of how a bicycle commuter wears a smart-looking shirt to the office after it’s been stuffed into a rucksack without the rigmarole of keeping an...

We’ve seen pedal-powered Ferraris , Porsches , Range Rovers and buses, but never a pedal-powered tractor. Until now. The Culticycle is a pedal-powered tractor capable of cultivating, seeding, spraying or pulling gear for most low-horsepower tasks. Small tractors do many jobs very well, but also consume fuel, are noisy, compact soil and are...

The bicycle is a design of such efficiency that it no longer has any need to evolve, but that is not to say there is no desire for new takes on bike accessories. A range of beautifully simple and elegant extras for bicycles by Italian design students showcases a fresh approach to bike lighting, mudguards, bottle holders and bells. Brake...

Given that its price, range and usability makes an electric bicycle the most practical option for those wanting the benefits of a battery-powered vehicle today, it’s perhaps surprising that only 25,000 were sold here last year – less than one per cent of all bikes sold in Britain. However, these relatively modest sales could be a thing of...

Bicycle theft can be significantly reduced by placing large photos of staring eyes above bike racks, research by Newcastle University has found. The two-year experiment, which was conducted on campus grounds, resulted in a reduction in theft of 62%. And there was also a noticeable difference in places without the signs, where bike theft...