Infrastructure

Councillors fuming as ‘scrapped’ cycle lanes included in £19.9m active travel plans, after dismay at potential loss of six car parking spaces

Representatives of South Ayrshire Council believed the cycling infrastructure had been removed completely from the scheme, but were told this week that funding may be withdrawn if bike lanes weren’t included

“The equivalent of upgrading a single A-road junction”: National Cycle Network set for £104m investment as transport secretary promises to go “hell for leather on active travel” – but campaigners are unimpressed

“It’s not about pitting one mode of travel against another. No one is declaring war on this or that. And you definitely won’t find me leading a charge of the Lycra brigade. I simply want to give people greater choice in their lives,” Heidi Alexander said

“Nobody wants to wear a mask but they can help”: Scientist tells cyclists they should cover nose and face when riding in high-polluting heavy traffic

The suggestion was made as Cycling Scotland published data showing cycling's popularity was continuing to grow in several urban areas, and has even overtaken cars on one street in Edinburgh

Plans for London-wide e-bike hire licences delayed by impending public consultation

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has planned to replace the borough-by-borough contracts with a city wide scheme since as early as 2017, but has been delayed by Department for Transport regulations

Police oppose new cycle lane amid fears of “a highway for illegal e-bikes on drug runs” – but council insists area will be safer and avoid “mania” of local roads

Despite the police’s objections the proposed cycleway was approved by councillors, who say measures will be put in place to “reduce opportunities for anti-social behaviour”

Network Rail removes sign suggesting e-bikes are banned in train stations, admitting “customers can continue to pass through”

The sign caused worry and confusion among some cycling campaigners as a photo of the sign circulated online, particularly following Cycling UK's announcement of a planned demonstration against Merseyrail's ban of e-bikes on trains

Hire e-bikes to feature ‘number plates’ to clamp down on dangerous cycling and ‘problematic’ parking – and ban repeat offenders

ID codes used to unlock Forest's e-bikes are being rolled out in Richmond, though Forest declined to confirm if the policy is a trial or permanent

Replacing driving lane with bike path will “historically destroy” Roman hamlet and turn it into “road traffic bottleneck”, locals claim – but cyclists point out “the Romans didn’t have cars”

“We’re going to turn a free flow of movement into a stop, start, stop, start. It’s going to cause havoc, pollution, and disturbance,” one local campaigner argued

Funding to borough suspended after mayor removes £230,000 segregated cycle lane… without telling authorities

"You cannot expect Londoners to pay for active travel schemes, then pay to rip them out"

“Massive” cycle lanes “taking over the streets”, claims Irish MP – in town where only 1km of bike paths have been built in a decade

Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín also complained that car parking spaces were “disappearing” in Navan, prompting cycling campaigners to note that there are still 3,600 parking spots in the town centre

Camera cyclist Dave Sherry laughed at by GB News presenters for correctly pointing out speed limits do not apply to cyclists during 20mph ‘debate’

Sherry was mocked mercilessly by the hosts during the segment, in which he was supposed to be debating with the conservative commentator Charles Amos about the proposed introduction of 20mph speed limits in Birmingham

Safety fears behind “absolute generational collapse” in number of children cycling to school, Cycling Ireland president says

“A secondary school child should be easily able to cycle the three to five kilometres every morning and every evening. There’s no reason why they shouldn’t, other than the fact that their parents have serious safety concerns around that actual route to school”

“I know what it’s like to be hit by one of these beasts”: Italian mayor bans bikes in city centre after cyclist struck him

A mass bike ride is planned in protest against the ban, whilst the mayor also called for cyclists to require licence plates and insurance

“And drivers wonder why cyclists ride in middle of the road”: Cyclists mock country roads with deep cracks by posting photos of their bikes standing in them

The photos are an ominous warning for the Tour of Britain Men, which is due to use similar local roads in a fortnight's time.

“I would rather my son broke his leg than had a broken brain staring at screens”: Young cyclists stage protest to stop diggers removing bike park jumps deemed “unsafe”

Forestry England says the youngsters are “welcome” to use the woods’ bridleways and horse trails instead, though a decision on the future of the ramps won’t be made until next year

“If you can’t get Greens to back one cycle lane, then what are you ever going to get support for?”: Green Party councillors in Bath oppose lit, protected bike lane through park

The local authority says the new active travel infrastructure will create "a more welcoming environment for everyone" but the Green opposition councillors believe the new proposal remains "socially unsafe"

New police “safety patrol” to stop speeding cyclists on shared path… but only when they’re “clearly exceeding” 15mph speed limit

Cambridgeshire County Council announced the restrictions along the Guided Busway last year, but the authority is now ramping up its enforcement against "dangerous" and "anti-social" behaviour

98% of mountain bikers have ridden illegal trails because official ones aren’t challenging enough, claims new study

“If we want to reduce off-route riding, the solution isn’t enforcement, it’s investment. Build better, more progressive trail systems locally, and riders will use them.” says Paul's Cycles Managing Director

Cycle path “creating a constant stream of arguments between drivers and cyclists” should be altered “so cyclists give way to vehicles”, demands councillor expelled from Reform UK

The section of cycle path in Exeter should have give way markings on it so cyclists must give way to traffic turning into the side road from the main carriageway, according to Councillor Ed Hill

“It’s perverse”: National Highways closing cycle paths – because the roads beside them are too heavily polluted

“It’s perverse that people who want to walk and cycle are penalised because the motor traffic is too polluting,” one cycling campaigner said

Proposed bike lane rejected in favour of temporary van dwelling site due to safety concerns

The rejection is a setback for local campaigners who have been calling for the cycleway for several years

“High prices lock out residents who need cheap, sustainable transport the most”: Campaigners welcome slashed cost of safe bike parking permits after criticism of the “most expensive bike hangars in the UK”

Campaigners have hailed the price cut as "a victory for people power", although the new prices remain 50 percent higher than a residential car parking permit

“I could have been killed”: London cyclist who broke jaw and both elbows after hitting ‘invisible’ plastic cycle lane divider sues council

Greg Simmons suffered the horrific injuries after being 'catapulted' from his bike - Enfield Council is refusing to pay up, claiming that the divider was not defective

“Far too much business as usual”: Transport for London fails to install a single cycle lane on its own network last year, damning new report finds

TfL has instead relied on individual boroughs to install cycling infrastructure in the capital

Cyclists are “greedy” for taking up more space than pedestrians, claims leading architect who feels “guilty” when riding bike

Other active travel campaigners say the focus should be on taking space from cars and "not another vulnerable category"

“Where will all the fun runners park?” Locals slam cycle lane plans due to removal of trees that “survived the Blitz and the Troubles”… as well as loss of Airbnb parking spaces

“What is wrong with cycling on the road? I’ve been doing it for 50 years without issue,” one resident complained

Calls to rip out “disastrous” cycle lane always blocked by cars rejected – but council proposes extra parking spaces in concession to angry traders

"We have listened to the concerns about the challenges with parking, deliveries and inconsiderate parking on the cycle lane," the council said

Glasgow could lose out on over 200km of cycle lanes as government warned switch to short-term funding a “significant barrier” to meeting climate targets

Despite Glasgow City Council committing to installing around 270km of protected cycle lanes, only 54.4km are expected to be delivered by 2032, following the approval of the scaled-back ‘Connecting Glasgow’ programme

14,000 on cycle storage waiting list as bike theft rockets and cyclists complain: “If you can’t get a space, you’re not going to be inspired to buy a bike”

In response, the new Green-led Council said, "The council historically has not done enough" and "reducing the number of people waiting will now be a priority"

Affluent residents “less receptive” to cycling due to “high car ownership”, newly-approved active travel plan warns

The statement goes against the recent stereotype that cycling has become a favoured transport mode of the middle-classes