Jo Helme

“Many cities think bike sharing is this easy, ready-to-insert scheme: it’s not.” We spoke to two of Europe’s leading bike sharing experts to find out what five things you need to get right when setting up bike sharing schemes. Bike Sharing: More Complicated Than You'd Think “Bike sharing is a powerful...

Looking for a handy handbook on cycling? We’ve found some of the best freely available ones, saving you from ceaseless searches.  Sieving through the endless sheets of information on cycling can be overwhelming.  If you’re looking for condensed articles with only the juicy bits included, then look no further than our...

In 2014 Bern launched a ‘Velo Offensive’ to make cycling the triumphing transport choice. We asked those involved about which tactics were deployed and whether it can be heralded as a win for the bike.  What Is the Velo Offensive? Momentum is building to make Bern the cycling capital of Switzerland....

Awareness campaigns to promote cycling have been rolled out in countless cities, multiple times. Cycling campaigns have taken various angles –from letting us know how good cycling is for our health, environment, bank account or time management, through to persuading us to cycle using humour, emotion or guilt tripping...

Everything you need to know about cycle highways, covering all the basic information, steps to creating a cycle highway and insights from people working in the field.  What Are Cycle Highways? A Whistle Stop Tour  Cycle highways pride themselves on being high-quality cycle routes which cover long distances, usually connecting suburbs and...

Do we need driverless cars, or carless drivers? Why do we talk about congestion, but not systemic traffic violence? How come John Lennon was in bed with a bicycle? We interviewed the Cycling Professor, a renowned social media activist and academic at the University Cycling Institute, who left us...

The cyclist, geared up and lycra laden, darts through rush hour traffic. Tucks behind trucks and weaves past weary commuters. Races the lights with the ease of the breeze. Pulls straight into the workplace parking lot, helmet in the locker and showers – ready at the desk for 9am.  Did...

Cycling in London is still a new phenomenon. As the city trials cycling schemes, it repeatedly faces heated hostility. We learned from the London Cycling Campaign how to handle the heat and avoid backlash – or ‘bikelash’.  Mini-Hollands and Highways – London Is Pedalling Towards Change  Only 2% of commuter journeys...

“If you are considering cycling as an option for your city, please consider this group,” says Alex Baum, co-author of the ‘Cycling Cities for Infants, Toddlers, and Caregivers’ Report. He told us why it is important to include this neglected group and how to make a city better suited...

Calgary went from less than a 2% cycling modal share, to the ‘Calgary Approach’ being adopted by other cities. Speaking to the campaign group, Bike Calgary, we learned how it happened and what advice they have for other cycling advocates. Calgary’s Cycling Story: “We Were Running Cycle Tracks Like...

From corporate, to bicycle mechanic, to founder of ‘Get Women Cycling’, Angela Azzolino has experienced New York’s streets as a cyclist from different perspectives. We caught up with her to discuss helmet hair and the gender cycling gap, her scepticism of bike lanes and how she teaches driving schools to...

As President of the Winter Cycling Federation, Timo’s aim is to make cities active all year round. He talks about cycling at -30C, the broken gym culture and making politicians practice what they preach.   Timo’s Story: The Miracle of Year-Round Cycling  “I never thought I was a cycling advocate” says Timo, “just...