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The start of 2025 marked a bold new chapter for urban logistics in the Netherlands, with 14 cities, including Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht, and The Hague, implementing zero-emission zones. Designed to decarbonise freight, these zones ban polluting vans and trucks from city centres. By 2030, all vehicles entering these areas must meet zero-emission standards. With 30 Dutch cities expected to adopt similar measures, the Netherlands is leading the charge towards cleaner, healthier urban environments.

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With the internal combustion engine being phased out and electric cars struggling to gain universal acceptance, the dominance of the private car looks less certain. Buyers remain wary of electric vehicles (EVs), citing concerns over charging infrastructure, range anxiety, and resale values. And for many young people, the emotional attachment to cars has faded, replaced by the convenience of apps like Uber or bike-sharing schemes such as Lime.

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e-bikes have transformed how we think about transport, offering a greener, healthier alternative to cars. But behind every smooth ride is a battery that, like any piece of technology, doesn’t last forever. How long your e-bike battery lasts and what happens to it at the end of its life are critical questions for anyone looking to embrace this sustainable mode of transport.

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For around 500,000 people in the UK, mobility scooters are a lifeline, helping them stay independent year-round, rain or shine. But winter can present unique challenges, from icy paths to dwindling battery ranges. If parking up your scooter until the weather improves isn’t an option, here’s how to keep moving safely during these colder months.

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Pressure washers have become the go-to tool for tackling tough cleaning jobs, but their power and setup can sometimes work against them. If you’ve ever struggled with a bulky machine, fought with a kinked garden hose, or cursed the lack of an outdoor tap, you’ll know what we mean.

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As the UK braces for its coldest night of the winter, with temperatures expected to plunge to as low as -20°C over the Pennines, many of us will be cranking up the heating and layering up. But for those of us who rely on bicycles to get around, another concern looms large: the icy neglect of cycle lanes.

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E-bikes have emerged as one of the most promising solutions to urban congestion, pollution, and sedentary lifestyles. Yet, they are fast becoming the scapegoat of a media determined to stoke moral panic rather than foster understanding.

This week, an edition of BBC’s Panorama took aim. The programme, ostensibly addressing issues like over-powered delivery bikes and the risk to pedestrians, has been criticised for perpetuating misconceptions.

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Starting today, millions of visitors to the UK, including those from the USA, Canada, and Australia, will need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). By April 2025, the requirement will extend to Europeans and all non-visa travellers without UK immigration status, marking a significant change to the UK’s border process.

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In a move to promote active travel, Transport for London (TfL) has announced a fresh injection of £580,000 to support walking and cycling initiatives across the capital. The grants, available through TfL’s Walking and Cycling Grants London programme, aim to dismantle barriers to active travel by focusing on underserved communities and those less likely to walk or cycle regularly.

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Sure, we Brits have to put up with patchy cycling infrastructure, but how often is weather a good excuse for not hopping on two wheels? Plenty of European countries with a climate much like ours manage to get on with it. The Dutch, for instance, have turned cycling into an all-weather sport. They pedal through snow, sleet, and rain on their trusty town bikes, often in nothing more than everyday clothing. Their approach is practical, and their resilience inspiring. Even gale-force headwinds are no match for Dutch grit – they’ve even turned it into a competitive event.

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