Campaigning

Life imprisonment for riders who kill pedestrians under ‘dangerous cycling’ law “unlikely to improve road safety”, claims expert

The road safety expert also called for a “greater focus” on “conventional collisions” between drivers and pedestrians, as opposed to the “tiny fraction” of offences caused by cyclists

“Sainsbury’s only thinks about car drivers”: Supermarket slammed for closing cycle access during works, diverting cyclists onto narrow footway or “fast and busy” dual carriageway

“This appears to be a typical lack of thought for people on bikes by the grocery sector,” said one local cycling campaigner, as the council opens an investigation into the closure

“Ludicrous adversarial clickbait”: BBC asks, “Is public sympathy for cyclists wearing thin?” – as around-the-world cyclist Mark Beaumont claims Jeremy Vine’s bike videos “encourage division”

The debate, featured on BBC Radio Scotland’s Mornings programme, has been accused of promoting an ‘us and them’ agenda by cyclists on social media

“Mass trespass” sees hundreds cycle through controversial Silvertown Tunnel where cyclists have to catch “greenwashing” bus due to lack of bike route

Ride follows opening of £2.2bn London tunnel without a cycling route, forcing cyclists to take a lengthy detour or use widely criticised shuttle bus

“I enjoy debates but not abuse”: Jeremy Vine to stop sharing cycling videos on social media because “trolling just got too bad”

"They have had well over 100 million views but in the end the anger they generate has genuinely upset me"

People used bikes less frequently in 2024 than previous year, with fewer women and children cycling along with lack of funding described as “concerning” by campaigners

Latest Department for Transport data shows number of bike journeys decreased in 2024, however, cycling distance went up by 9%, while average walking and car trips also saw an increase

“People find helmets unpleasant”: Dutch government launches ‘Put It On’ campaign urging cyclists to wear helmets as serious cycling injuries continue to rise – but activists say scheme “distracts from real issues”

The campaign aims to encourage a quarter of the Netherlands’ cyclists to opt for helmets within ten years, though critics say it could lead to cycling being associated with danger, claiming clamping down on speeding, dangerous drivers is key instead

“The only way is to lift my bike over my head”: Cyclist slams “anti-bike” gates creating “low cycling neighbourhoods” instead of low traffic neighbourhoods

The cyclist said that the gates on the London Cycle Network, intended to stop motorbikes and quad bikes, have instead ended up deterring the elderly and the disabled from riding a bike

Pizzeria owner demands bike lanes ripped out and car parking reinstated, despite £6m active travel project to boost “café culture and night-time economy”

The cycle lanes are part of the council’s wider project aimed at making the high street more attractive to shoppers and visitors, however, the pizzeria owner argued that they were the “final straw” after years of roadworks and reduced parking

Active travel campaigners call for higher taxes on “supersized” SUVs to tackle “carspreading”, claiming they are more dangerous to cyclists and pedestrians and cause more pothole damage

“It’s only fair if you want to buy a massive SUV that you should expect to pay more for the space it takes up,” the campaigners said, pointing out that only 18% don’t want to see additional charges on SUVs

Welsh Labour government to prioritise walking projects over cycle lanes, as cycling campaigners fear “missed opportunity”

Concerns come after Welsh government accused of "deeply disingenuous" move "using drop in casualties on 20mph roads to justify cutting back on active travel infrastructure"

“It’s important we build safe cycle routes designed with women in mind”: Abuse and unsafe infrastructure preventing more women from cycling, Cycling UK report states

Cycling UK suggests seven years of cycling progress has reduced barriers for men, but female cyclists have been left behind

“A textbook example of terrible highway design”: Council blasted after “serious downgrade” at popular roundabout leaves cyclists and pedestrians with no safe route to hospital

NHS workers had previously joined cyclists in slamming the changes aimed at encouraging “more and faster” motor traffic, with the council also accused of ignoring its own safety audit

Campaigners who claim to “support cycle path” actually want major bike lane plan scrapped… to make way for dual carriageway

Petition launched to protest active travel corridor, with campaigners confusingly claiming to "support a cycle path"... while also arguing the scheme is a council "agenda" that should be ditched and the road doubled in size

“Tree-hugging” protests backed by David Attenborough continue as council chops down trees to make way for controversial cycle lane

Long-running saga saw residents lose High Court challenge over "destructive" bike lane plans, but council says trees only being cut down because residents opposed loss of on-street car parking

British Cycling unveils “bold” four-year strategy to get people riding bikes – but road safety expert blasts failure to “tackle danger for cyclists”

The governing body aims to reinforce Britain’s position as a “world-leading cycling nation” while also tackling health and social inequalities by ensuring “everyone has the opportunity to ride a bike”

“Don’t leave girls behind”: Calls to address gender gap for children cycling, as new report finds almost twice as many boys ride bikes as girls – and 80% of children want traffic-free routes and pavement parking bans

Sustrans’ inaugural Children’s Walking and Cycling Index also found that more than half of children want to cycle more, but only 14 per cent of children’s journeys are currently made by bike

Cyclists’ hi-vis clothing invisible to some car brands’ automated emergency braking systems, shocking crash prevention study finds

“It’s untenable that the clothes cyclists wear to be safe may make them harder for crash avoidance technology to recognise,” a road safety researcher said, after finding that a Honda model failed to slow at all when confronted with reflecting clothing

Petition asks government for drivers to be “presumed liable” for cyclist collisions

The proposal for civil cases would mean motorists would be presumed liable unless they prove otherwise when involved in collisions with vulnerable road users, such as cyclists and pedestrians

“Taxis using bus lanes only serve to endanger cyclists”: Cycling campaigners slam “hidden” consultation to extend “dangerous” and controversial trial

Northern Ireland's Department for Infrastructure allowed taxi drivers to use some Belfast bus lanes over Christmas to ease congestion, but campaigners say it "risks making things even worse" by "clogging up" routes "with more drivers"

“We can’t wait for some horrible accident outside the school before we do anything”: No funding for safety schemes at school where driver hit child on bike, as council vows to “deal with fallout” from scrapping of controversial LTN

One councillor claimed that since the Active Streets scheme was scrapped, locals have regressed to “bad habits”, including “cycling on pavements” and “parking on zig-zag lines outside schools”

“Typical left-wing council ignoring the majority vote”: 28 cycle lanes given go-ahead at council meeting disrupted by locals protesting “ludicrous” decision

“I’ve never heard such a load of crap in my life. I could be watching Emmerdale,” shouted one of the protestors, who had to be urged to not be abusive and rude

Brompton bike factory approval a “dark day for nature”, says wildlife trust – while also slamming “puzzling” lack of car parking spaces

The folding bike brand says it will create a new wetland habitat as part of the planned “eco-friendly” headquarters and factory, but campaigners argue “nature has been sidelined… for a company with well-documented financial instability”

“Bicycle Redistribution Point”: Spoof sign highlights train station’s bike theft problem, as designer slams police inaction and lack of security for cyclists

“My hope is that this will spark some action to improve security and deter thefts in the area,” says the man behind the “depressingly accurate” sign, described as “Chichester’s answer to Bansky”

“E-bikes are not illegal”: BBC hit with more complaints about “misleading and damaging” Panorama e-bike episode, as cycle shop owner says: “Finding a wolf in sheep’s clothing should not be a reason to attack sheep”

“The safety of road users is the most important thing, but highlighting danger should not involve the misrepresentation of an important and fast-growing sector increasing the amount of healthy, eco-friendly travel”

Locals support ban on “malicious” cycling in town centres where police claim cyclists “rifle through” – but cyclists call for clampdown on “speeding vehicles” and worry PSPO could target safe cycling

Some respondents to the council’s “nuisance” cycling consultation also argued that any ban on anti-social cyclists should be followed by the introduction of safe bike routes in the towns

Bicycle Association formally complains to BBC over Adrian Chiles’ e-bike Panorama “misrepresentation”, claiming episode “unjustifiably damaged” legal e-bike industry

The cycle industry organisation said the programme conflated e-bikes with “illegal e-motorbikes”, lacked balance, and “failed to properly inform the public”

“Ridiculous” bike bus through controversial new tunnel to cost £2m, as cycling campaign says “greenwashing” project “won’t help” cyclists

Cyclists have criticised Transport for London's plan to shuttle riders through the new Silvertown Tunnel via a bus rather than providing an active travel route, while there are also concerns about the tunnel encouraging car use and increasing pollution

CyclingMikey named by Daily Mail as one of the “top villains of 2024” – alongside the Post Office, VAR, Oasis, Gregg Wallace… and Paddington Bear

“Does this mean I’m one of the good guys?” the road safety campaigner asked

Council takes swipe at “cycling groups using media outlets to curtail consultation” on controversial city centre cycling fines, as cyclists slam “pissy, insulting” response

After Birmingham City Council outlined its plans to ban “dangerous, careless, or inconsiderate” cycling, campaigners branded the “watered down” PSPO a “waste of paper” and the “single stupidest thing” the local authority has proposed