The War on Cars Riding the UK's Cycle Network with Laura Laker
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Mar 11, 2025 
Laura Laker, a London-based freelance journalist and author of "Potholes and Pavements," shares her adventurous year cycling through Britain’s National Cycle Network. She discusses the myriad benefits of cycling, from health to community engagement, and emphasizes the importance of infrastructure for safer routes. Laker also tackles road safety, advocating for better media reporting to change public perceptions. Her experiences highlight grassroots efforts advocating for safer cycling, alongside a critical view of London's evolving transport policies.
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Induced Demand for Bike Routes
- Building routes for specific users ultimately attracts those users.
- Tarmacking paths in national parks increased usership dramatically, demonstrating the importance of accessibility.
Andy Cox's Transformation
- Andy Cox, a London cop, initially lacked interest in road safety but changed his perspective after experiencing roads firsthand.
- He advocated for better resources, evidence-based policing, and changed language regarding road incidents.
Reporting Road Incidents
- Include contributory factors, like speeding, in police reports to highlight preventability of crashes.
- Use the term "road crime" for infractions like speeding to emphasize their seriousness.
