Laura Laker

In July 2023 I hosted a lunchtime chat with Greater Manchester mayor, Andy Burnham about the city’s Bee Network, integrating transport in the city, and getting Noel Gallagher to do the bus announcements. You can watch the video below, or listen to the audio here.

In January 2022 I appeared on the BBC’s World at One for an almost five-minute slot, chatting to Sarah Montague while cycling around central London about the UK’s Highway Code changes. During our ride I set the record straight on what was - and wasn’t - happening with the changes, following a lot of misinformation from other parts of the media. You can listen below.

In July 2021 I hosted the launch of the European Cyclists’ Federation’s report on cycle provision on trains. The report highlighted best (and worst) practice from rail operators across Europe.

In September 2019 the fabulous Wheelsuckers Podcast hosts, aka Alex Davies and Jenni Gwiazdowski, interviewed me about my work as a journalist, lindy hopping, and the trouble with cars. It’s available on Apple Podcasts or via its own page on the Wheelsuckers website.

In November 2018 I chaired a panel at the London Bicycle Film Festival in London, on how to get more people cycling. You can read my blog about it.

Live TV appearance on BBC Breakfast in August 2018

In June 2018 I appeared on LBC with Clive Bull, discussing diversity in cycling.

On 17 May 2018 I closed the Hackney Cycling Conference with a presentation on why politicians don't need to fear cycling - because it's popular with voters. In the plenary session I shared a stage with representatives from Greater Manchester, the Department for Transport and Sustrans Cymru. 

I explained my work sometimes involves defending cyclists against misinformation, and that it's important politicians remember the facts about cycling, rather than the hyperbole. I invited people to laugh at some of the hysterical, if sometimes understandable opinions, about cycling infrastructure, by contrasting over-the-top headlines with the facts. Here are some comments from attendees:

April 2018 was a busy month for public speaking for me. I interviewed New York's former transportation director, Jon Orcutt, for the inaugural Street Talks podcast, as Sustrans' headquarters in London. Jon talked about the importance of Vision Zero in tackling road danger, and how New York's experience applies to London (and other cities). You can listen to the podcast via the link, below:

Live and pre-recorded interviews on Sky News in March 2018 on why a death by dangerous cycling law should not be the priority if we are looking to tackle road danger

In March 2017 I chaired London's Street Talk, a monthly panel discussion about urban design,  discussing how cycling can save the world. The event coincided with the launch of Guardian journalist Peter Walker's book, Bike Nation: How Cycling Can Save the World.

At the crack of dawn on the last day of the twenty-teens (New Year’s Eve 2019), I appeared live on BBC Radio London with presenter Petrie Hosken - talking about cycle theft. It’s on iPlayer until the end of January - I appear at around 07.16.

In June 2019 I co-hosted a series of podcasts with fellow cycling journalist Carlton Reid, from Velo-city, the annual international cycling conference, this year held in Dublin. They are available to listen in Episodes or subscribe, for free, on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or the website itself is virtualvelo-city.com.

In June 2018 I appeared on two panels, on consecutive days. The first, in Bristol's Watershed, was following Sustrans research about why more women don't cycle - and organised by Sustrans. It was fantastic to be on a rare all-women panel talking about transport. The Bristol Post did a write up.

The second panel was at the City of London's Guildhall, discussing “Why do so many people have a problem with cyclists and what can be done about it?” On the panel with me was Ashok Sinha of LCC , Dr Rachel Lee of Living Streets, Jaqueline O'Donovan of O'Donovan Waste, and Carlton Reid of BikeBiz. 

Also in April 2018, I was delighted to be on a speaking panel at the book launch of Bikes & Bloomers, with author and Adventure Syndicate superwoman, Emily Chappell, and Bruce Bennett (Senior Lecturer in Film Studies, Lancaster University). Bikes & Bloomers is a fascinating tale of cycling, sewing and suffragettes through inventive women's cyclewear. Its author is the fantastic Kat Jungnickel, a sociologist and senior lecturer at Goldsmiths University. She can also ride a Penny Farthing. Here she is, below, at the launch demonstrating the Bygrave convertible skirt, complete with internal pulley system that lifts the front and rear of the skirt via drawstrings, causing the sides to festoon attractively - and that's me admiring it.

I've read the book, and absolutely loved it. Thanks to Kat's patent archive research, these women's stories can be told, but its her uncovering who the women behind the patents were, and the impact on women's lives, through census data and newspaper clippings, that brings their stories to life. I've a book review coming out in the next issue of Casquette magazine, which I'll share when it's available.

In April 2017 I was interviewed by cycling journalist and author, Carlton Reid, for the Spokesmen podcast, talking about how I got into cycling, advocacy, London. Then I turn the interview around and talk to Carlton about his latest project, unearthing the UK's forgotten 1930's cycleways.

Listen here

In March 2016 I chaired a panel of experts, discussing how to get more people cycling in London .

On the panel with me were London cycling commissioner (at the time), Andrew Gilligan, Olympic cyclist and British Cycling's Policy Advisor, Chris Boardman, Dr Rachel Aldred, reader in transport at the University of Westminster, Guardian journalist, Peter Walker, and Licensed Taxi Driver's Association General secretary, Steve McNamara. 

In February 2016 I was on an all-female panel discussing how women are portrayed in the cycling media. I later wrote an article on it for Total Women's Cycling, which you can read here.