Laura Laker is a freelance journalist specialising in cycling and urban transport. She has written for a variety of news and specialist publications, from the Guardian, to Good Housekeeping, to road.cc, bikebiz, and Total Women's Cycling, and others. She also appears on Sky News from time to time to discuss cycling issues, and occasionally chairs panel debates.
When not writing about cycling, she might be found on her bike, swing dancing, walking or, more recently, running.
“One of our best and most eloquent advocates”
“I really do think Laura is spot on, on everything”
What I've Achieved
- Nominated as one of Cycling UK's 100 Women in Cycling - 2017
- Shortlisted for BikeBiz award Cycling Woman of the Year 2018
- Exclusive interview with transport minister, Jesse Norman, for the Guardian after I wrote a critical article on his cycling review process
- Exposé of FedEx decision not to respond to safety procedure questions following a road rage incident because the victim wasn't deemed 'high profile' enough
- Guardian investigation into how the 'gig economy' could make UK roads less safe
- Exclusive on the introduction of a 'gold standard' close pass operation by the Metropolitan Police to tackle close passing of cyclists by drivers
- Exclusive series following the roll out of groundbreaking close pass operations, begun by West Midlands Police, to constabularies across the UK
- First to reveal Eurostar plans to require cyclists to dismantle bikes to travel. After my investigative series, published on road.cc, and intense lobbying from campaigners, Eurostar changed its policy
- Editor of two Guardian cycling supplements, 2013 and 2014
- Scoop for the Guardian on the phasing out of postal bikes by Royal Mail
- Winner - Team Division of the European Swing Dance Championships, 2013, with the Dixie Dinahs
Education:
A full pass in the Fast track NCTJ pre-entry certificate in newspaper journalism, the NCTJ's 'gold standard' newspaper journalism qualification (from News Associates), with modules in news writing, politics, law and shorthand, including a placement in local paper, the Islington Gazette
First Class Honours degree in nutrition, health and fitness from the University of Westminster