Laura Laker
@lauralaker.bsky.social
Journalist, author of Potholes and Pavements, cohost of @podstreetsahead.bsky.social
https://lauralaker.substack.com
https://lauralaker.substack.com
Last post of 2025! Here's to unsung heroes, and to their efforts in 2026. They deserve all of our support
Thanks to everyone who has supported my work this year, and those who have read it
substack.com/home/post/p-...
Thanks to everyone who has supported my work this year, and those who have read it
substack.com/home/post/p-...
A celebration of effort
And some unsung heroes
substack.com
December 31, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Last post of 2025! Here's to unsung heroes, and to their efforts in 2026. They deserve all of our support
Thanks to everyone who has supported my work this year, and those who have read it
substack.com/home/post/p-...
Thanks to everyone who has supported my work this year, and those who have read it
substack.com/home/post/p-...
A future without Zipcar*
*I walked home, obvs
*I walked home, obvs
December 29, 2025 at 1:31 PM
A future without Zipcar*
*I walked home, obvs
*I walked home, obvs
The yarn bombers in my home town of Wiveliscombe are rather brilliant 🎄
December 24, 2025 at 6:24 PM
The yarn bombers in my home town of Wiveliscombe are rather brilliant 🎄
Reposted by Laura Laker
NEW POD EPISODE! 🚨This time, we're talking Outputs, not Outcomes and England's Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy, with Xavier Brice of @walkwheelcyclet.bsky.social
Listen here, or wherever you get your podcasts: shows.acast.com/streets-ahea...
Listen here, or wherever you get your podcasts: shows.acast.com/streets-ahea...
Outputs not outcomes (CWIS3) | Streets Ahead
And why we need to start treating active travel like road and rail transport
shows.acast.com
December 22, 2025 at 2:47 PM
NEW POD EPISODE! 🚨This time, we're talking Outputs, not Outcomes and England's Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy, with Xavier Brice of @walkwheelcyclet.bsky.social
Listen here, or wherever you get your podcasts: shows.acast.com/streets-ahea...
Listen here, or wherever you get your podcasts: shows.acast.com/streets-ahea...
NEW POD EPISODE! 🚨This time we're talking Outputs, not Outcomes and England's Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy, with Xavier Brice of the @walkwheelcyclet.bsky.social
Listen here, or wherever you get your podcasts: shows.acast.com/streets-ahea...
Listen here, or wherever you get your podcasts: shows.acast.com/streets-ahea...
Outputs not outcomes (CWIS3) | Streets Ahead
And why we need to start treating active travel like road and rail transport
shows.acast.com
December 22, 2025 at 10:56 AM
NEW POD EPISODE! 🚨This time we're talking Outputs, not Outcomes and England's Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy, with Xavier Brice of the @walkwheelcyclet.bsky.social
Listen here, or wherever you get your podcasts: shows.acast.com/streets-ahea...
Listen here, or wherever you get your podcasts: shows.acast.com/streets-ahea...
I'm mildly obsessed with these blue winter skies. Behold the colour on what I term the Schumacher tree
December 20, 2025 at 10:36 AM
I'm mildly obsessed with these blue winter skies. Behold the colour on what I term the Schumacher tree
The bicycle as a literary and stage icon. Also, just a neat trick, keeping that wheel turning
December 17, 2025 at 8:31 AM
The bicycle as a literary and stage icon. Also, just a neat trick, keeping that wheel turning
Just a cheery little leaf blowing mini tractor on NCN1 beside the River Lea this week.
Even the way he corners it (I'm sure there's a method to it) reminds me of Postman Pat and his van
Even the way he corners it (I'm sure there's a method to it) reminds me of Postman Pat and his van
December 12, 2025 at 8:33 AM
Just a cheery little leaf blowing mini tractor on NCN1 beside the River Lea this week.
Even the way he corners it (I'm sure there's a method to it) reminds me of Postman Pat and his van
Even the way he corners it (I'm sure there's a method to it) reminds me of Postman Pat and his van
Great hearing Sarah Coombes talk about this on Jeremy Vine's Radio 2 show just now... and lots of folks whose plates have been cloned
I’m very proud to have been part of this report with @pactsuk.bsky.social and @sarahcoombesmp.bsky.social on the serious and growing problem of Ghost Plates. The past couple of months have been incredibly eye-opening, to say the least: transportsafetyappg.org.uk/inquiries/ve...
Ghosts on the Road – Tackling the rise in illegal registration plates - APPG
Ghosts on the Road – Tackling the rise in illegal registration plates The All Party Parliamentary Group for Transport (APPGTS)...
transportsafetyappg.org.uk
December 9, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Great hearing Sarah Coombes talk about this on Jeremy Vine's Radio 2 show just now... and lots of folks whose plates have been cloned
I’m very proud to have been part of this report with @pactsuk.bsky.social and @sarahcoombesmp.bsky.social on the serious and growing problem of Ghost Plates. The past couple of months have been incredibly eye-opening, to say the least: transportsafetyappg.org.uk/inquiries/ve...
Ghosts on the Road – Tackling the rise in illegal registration plates - APPG
Ghosts on the Road – Tackling the rise in illegal registration plates The All Party Parliamentary Group for Transport (APPGTS)...
transportsafetyappg.org.uk
December 9, 2025 at 9:49 AM
I’m very proud to have been part of this report with @pactsuk.bsky.social and @sarahcoombesmp.bsky.social on the serious and growing problem of Ghost Plates. The past couple of months have been incredibly eye-opening, to say the least: transportsafetyappg.org.uk/inquiries/ve...
OK, of course the online form didn't match the list of questions so I've amended my Substack post to help those who are filling in the form online. There is also an email address you can simply bung a reply to, if that gets too confusing (it may!) CWIS3consultation@dft.gov.uk
If you want to get involved in the #CWIS3 consultation but don't know how, I've put together some suggestions substack.com/home/post/p-...
...and a list of paths you could refer to ...
...and a list of paths you could refer to ...
December 8, 2025 at 8:51 PM
OK, of course the online form didn't match the list of questions so I've amended my Substack post to help those who are filling in the form online. There is also an email address you can simply bung a reply to, if that gets too confusing (it may!) CWIS3consultation@dft.gov.uk
If you want to get involved in the #CWIS3 consultation but don't know how, I've put together some suggestions substack.com/home/post/p-...
...and a list of paths you could refer to ...
...and a list of paths you could refer to ...
December 8, 2025 at 1:38 PM
If you want to get involved in the #CWIS3 consultation but don't know how, I've put together some suggestions substack.com/home/post/p-...
...and a list of paths you could refer to ...
...and a list of paths you could refer to ...
More and more organisations recognise the power of active travel to help their businesses, improve patient health, reduce inequalities and make the country a better place. I'm proud to have coordinated this effort to bring those voices together around #CWIS3 with @adamtranter.bsky.social
December 8, 2025 at 8:54 AM
More and more organisations recognise the power of active travel to help their businesses, improve patient health, reduce inequalities and make the country a better place. I'm proud to have coordinated this effort to bring those voices together around #CWIS3 with @adamtranter.bsky.social
Good to chat about the thing that will shape active travel in England for the next five years, and why we should care about it, with the delightful @christianwolmar.bsky.social
S4E4 is en route, with hosts @christianwolmar.bsky.social and @markwalker59.bsky.social discussing all the transport related items in the #Budget, as well as an interview with @lauralaker.bsky.social regarding the DfT’s walking, wheeling and cycling program
Catch it here: markwalkerg.podbean.com
Catch it here: markwalkerg.podbean.com
December 5, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Good to chat about the thing that will shape active travel in England for the next five years, and why we should care about it, with the delightful @christianwolmar.bsky.social
Some ice trees grew on the windows overnight 🧊
December 5, 2025 at 8:51 AM
Some ice trees grew on the windows overnight 🧊
Reposted by Laura Laker
Residents in Haddenham and Thame are calling on authorities to end a 25 year wait for a greenway (walking & cycling route) between the two communities. A petition with over 4000 signatures has been submitted to Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire County Councils.
www.change.org/p/support-fo...
www.change.org/p/support-fo...
December 1, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Residents in Haddenham and Thame are calling on authorities to end a 25 year wait for a greenway (walking & cycling route) between the two communities. A petition with over 4000 signatures has been submitted to Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire County Councils.
www.change.org/p/support-fo...
www.change.org/p/support-fo...
Shaping the next five years: why you should care about the rather lacklustre third Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy consultation - and what you can do about it lauralaker.substack.com/p/a-cycling-...
A cycling and walking strategy goes into a bar...
And gets a bit of a pep talk
lauralaker.substack.com
December 1, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Shaping the next five years: why you should care about the rather lacklustre third Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy consultation - and what you can do about it lauralaker.substack.com/p/a-cycling-...
Reposted by Laura Laker
This piece is as good as people say it is. Read it to appreciate that writing isn't just about content, but style. AI can't do this.
Maybe Don’t Talk to the New York Times About Zohran Mamdani
It’s remarkable, the people you’ll hear from. Teach for even a little while at an expensive institution—the term they tend to prefer is “elite”—and odds are that eventually someone who was a studen…
lithub.com
November 9, 2025 at 11:10 AM
This piece is as good as people say it is. Read it to appreciate that writing isn't just about content, but style. AI can't do this.
Reposted by Laura Laker
NEW POD EPISODE! 🚨An unhappy fifth birthday. Five years and four prime ministers since the pavement parking consultation ended, and still no action.
What will it take to reclaim pavements?
shows.acast.com/streets-ahea...
What will it take to reclaim pavements?
shows.acast.com/streets-ahea...
Pavement Parking: An Unhappy Fifth Birthday | Streets Ahead
We wish the government's pavement parking consultation its unwanted fifth birthday
shows.acast.com
November 29, 2025 at 8:07 PM
NEW POD EPISODE! 🚨An unhappy fifth birthday. Five years and four prime ministers since the pavement parking consultation ended, and still no action.
What will it take to reclaim pavements?
shows.acast.com/streets-ahea...
What will it take to reclaim pavements?
shows.acast.com/streets-ahea...
Too cold this morning for handlebar deployment
November 26, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Too cold this morning for handlebar deployment
Long-term investment works: Ten years ago I stood on Vauxhall Bridge as the previous mayor opened the first of London's protected cycle superhighways (and one man emphatically flipped him the bird). Now there's 1.5m cycling trips PER DAY in London (up 12.7% on 2024) www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
November 25, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Long-term investment works: Ten years ago I stood on Vauxhall Bridge as the previous mayor opened the first of London's protected cycle superhighways (and one man emphatically flipped him the bird). Now there's 1.5m cycling trips PER DAY in London (up 12.7% on 2024) www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Love this www.instagram.com/reel/DQrzAkb... racing the new Superloop on foot.
Izzett describes pedestrian crossing wait times as 'enemies of progress'
Izzett describes pedestrian crossing wait times as 'enemies of progress'
Jordan Izzett on Instagram: "No chance this bus wasn’t going to get tested and approved by yours truly🙂↕️✅
Waterloo -> Lewisham😮💨📍
I’ll be shamelessly unleashing my bus series on IG😉
#fyp #runnin...
3,432 likes, 127 comments - izzettj on November 5, 2025: "No chance this bus wasn’t going to get tested and approved by yours truly🙂↕️✅
Waterloo -> Lewisham😮💨📍
I’ll be shamelessly unleashing my bu...
www.instagram.com
November 14, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Love this www.instagram.com/reel/DQrzAkb... racing the new Superloop on foot.
Izzett describes pedestrian crossing wait times as 'enemies of progress'
Izzett describes pedestrian crossing wait times as 'enemies of progress'
I FOI'd English councils whether they use legal land purchase powers to create traffic-free paths. Just 1% said they have successfully.
Why is something that's so common for roads almost never done for cycle routes? And what does it mean for cycling?
lauralaker.substack.com/p/cycleways-...
Why is something that's so common for roads almost never done for cycle routes? And what does it mean for cycling?
lauralaker.substack.com/p/cycleways-...
November 13, 2025 at 2:18 PM
I FOI'd English councils whether they use legal land purchase powers to create traffic-free paths. Just 1% said they have successfully.
Why is something that's so common for roads almost never done for cycle routes? And what does it mean for cycling?
lauralaker.substack.com/p/cycleways-...
Why is something that's so common for roads almost never done for cycle routes? And what does it mean for cycling?
lauralaker.substack.com/p/cycleways-...
Bluesky hivemind: which topic(s) would you like to hear us at @podstreetsahead.bsky.social discuss next?
November 11, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Bluesky hivemind: which topic(s) would you like to hear us at @podstreetsahead.bsky.social discuss next?
In which I visited Milton Keynes, and committed a faux pas. And had some thoughts about the city's 200 miles of cycle routes, known as the redways lauralaker.substack.com/p/milton-key...
Milton Keynes, land of cycling dreams?
And some illicit perching on concrete cows
lauralaker.substack.com
October 24, 2025 at 3:41 PM
In which I visited Milton Keynes, and committed a faux pas. And had some thoughts about the city's 200 miles of cycle routes, known as the redways lauralaker.substack.com/p/milton-key...