London's poor air quality has been in the headlines and, as a cyclist, this invisible danger is a major concern. According to figures from Kings College London, by January 5th of this year, Brixton had already exceeded the annual EU permitted ...
Safe cycling in London
The scariest moment I’ve had cycling in London
Cycling in London is a real pleasure and my favourite way to get around. However, there are close calls that remind you why people are often hesitant to travel by bike. These moments are sometimes my fault and sometimes the driver’s fault, the ...
How to obtain CCTV footage after an accident
Accidents happen and we've been sharing great tips on how to cycle safely in London and what to do if you are ever in an accident. However, we haven't previously covered how to get hold of CCTV if you are in an accident. In the UK ...
Complete guide to safe cycling for cyclists and motorists
Safe cycling is something we cover extensively on London Cyclist. This post is a collection of some of the most important information, in one place. Motorists share a responsibility with cyclists to create a safe environment, so we're going to cover ...
What it’s like to get knocked off your bike
Andreas: This is a story from a London Cyclist reader. If you'd like to share your story, please use the contact page. I didn’t quite make it to work this morning. Half way there, I was knocked off my bike yards from where a fatal cycling accident ...
3 odd changes to make your next bike ride safer than the last
An interesting article in the Evening Standard caught my attention last week. Inside, behavioural psychologist Crawford Hollingworth, suggested some quick changes cyclists can make to their next bike ride. As a reader of London Cyclist, you ...
How to stay safe when cycling around potholes
At the London Cyclist we were very sad to hear that Olympic Champion Dani King had a nasty accident with a pothole last week. In this case, the accident caused her five broken ribs and a collapsed lung – fortunately extensive injuries such as this ...
8 tips for riding home in the dark
Riding in the dark isn’t everyone’s idea of fun. A lamp lit spin around lanes you know, or off-road – known as night riding – can actually be both liberating and very relaxing, but when the ride is simply about getting home, it can sometimes feel ...
Dear bike thief… how to write a letter that could get your bike back
Bike theft isn't nice, we all know that. Many cyclists have experienced that sinking feeling, upon returning to the spot where the bike once stood to find nothing but... well, nothing. Perhaps a broken lock if the thief felt like rubbing it in. To ...
5 of the greatest dangers facing cyclists in London
Whilst we all go to sleep at night dreaming of better cycling infrastructure in London, until that day comes, it's worth recognising the dangers and how we can avoid them. I was luckily enough to receive a GoPro action camera from Argos to go ...
The best and worst cycle safety campaigns
Cycle safety campaigns are always embarked upon with our best interests at heart. Some of them are aimed at cyclists, others at drivers. Some are incredibly helpful, insightful and hopefully educational. Some of them less so. Here’s a look at ...
Hit by a car turning left, this cyclist decided to pursue a claim
Running London Cyclist I regularly hear stories of cyclists who've been hit by drivers who've been turning left, or who've come out of a junction without looking or any one of one of tens of other scenarios. I decided to interview one such cyclist ...
How to Prevent Bicycle Saddle Theft
A few weeks ago we had a look at how to have the most secure bike in London. There is nothing more devastating than returning to the spot where you left your bike to find only an empty space. However, bike theft has an annoying little sibling – and ...
How to have the most secure bike in London
There is something absolutely soul destroying about leaving work after a long day, making your way towards where you left your bike that morning – and finding an empty space. The reactions go a bit like this - First confusion: I thought I left it ...
How to cycle around horses
The recent Cycling Scotland advert, told drivers to treat a cyclist like a horse. That's all well and good, and makes for a rather funny video, but how should cyclists treat horses and horse riders? Jessica Drake, a member of Horses and Road ...
London’s 12 most terrifying junctions for cycling
The capital's cycling provision keeps cycling campaigners in business; a list of junctions that weren't designed for cycling would include 99% of the junctions in London. But what are the worst of the worst? The real places that cyclists dread to go? ...
What I’ve learned from hitting the tarmac
I love to ride my bike. I have done so for years – it’s a great way of getting around and I like to ride for sport, too. Despite the fact I love the feeling of whooshing along tarmac, with recent crashes grabbing the headlines, it’s hard not to let ...
How do you insure a really expensive bike?
You've just spent £3200 on a Trek Madone road bike and now you want to go out and ride it. But, sensibly, you decide to grab some insurance first. You checkout the best bicycle insurance options and head over to ETA to get your bike ...
New cycle safety film illustrates a lorry driver’s perspective
A new film by the Met Police is designed to show the dangers that can arise from a typical interaction between a cyclist and a driver. It's a useful film, which shows how easy it is for a cyclist to disappear in a blind spot. It's certainly ...
What cyclists can learn from the 5 recent incidents on London’s roads
Recent headlines have sent a shock through the cycling community. Five cyclists killed in nine days, bringing the death toll this year to 13. Unmentioned, are the hundreds of cyclists to suffer severe injuries. The Save Our Cyclists petition, as ...