In this episode of On the Pedals, Imogen Cotter speaks with journalist and author Laura Laker about bike theft, cycling infrastructure, road safety, and the future of cycling in Britain.

Having had multiple bikes stolen in London, Laura explains why bike theft remains one of the biggest barriers preventing more people from cycling. The conversation explores secure bike parking, the realities of recovering stolen bikes, and the wider impact theft has on confidence and cycling uptake.

Laura also discusses Britain's National Cycle Network, why disconnected infrastructure discourages cycling, the role of politics in shaping transport, and how better-designed public spaces can bring communities together.

Drawing on her reporting and her book, Potholes and Pavements: A Bumpy Ride on Britain's National Cycle Network, Laura shares what works, what doesn't, and what needs to change if we want more people to choose cycling for everyday journeys.

In this episode of On the Pedals, Imogen Cotter speaks with Jeyda Heselton, founder and CEO of fettle, about building a modern bike repair network for the future of cycling.

Jeyda shares how the idea for fettle began while working at JustPark, why bike servicing needed to become easier and more convenient, and how the business grew from a single London workshop into a nationwide repair network supported by Kwik Fit.

The conversation explores cycling infrastructure, e-bikes, cargo bikes, bike theft, secure bike parking, women in cycling, and the barriers preventing more people from choosing bikes for everyday transport.

A thoughtful conversation about entrepreneurship, urban mobility, and the future of cycling in the UK.

In this episode of On the Pedals, Imogen Cotter speaks with Professor Rachel Aldred about cycling infrastructure, road safety, Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs), active travel, and the barriers preventing more people from cycling in the UK.

Professor Aldred explains why transport systems still prioritise cars and why women are less likely to cycle than men.

The conversation also explores bike parking, bike theft, inequality in transport access, and how safer streets can improve everyday life in cities.

Aztecs Bikes is an independent bike shop in East London built from the ground up.

Marco and Angie started by repairing bikes in their flat. Today, they run an award-winning shop known for its focus on customer trust, transparency and community.

In this episode, they share their journey into cycling, what it takes to build a business in a tough retail environment, and how they’ve grown through word of mouth and reputation.

The conversation also explores bike theft and security, changing customer behaviour, second-hand bikes, and the realities of running a shop in London today.

It’s a grounded look at what it really takes to build something from nothing in the cycling industry.

Key takeaways

* Building trust is everything in a local bike shop

* Education and customer empowerment drive loyalty

* Bike theft continues to shape how people buy and ride

* Second-hand bikes come with hidden risks

* Running a cycling business is getting harder, not easier

In this episode of On the Pedals, host Imogen Cotter sits down with Mark Sutton, editor of Cycling Electric, to look at what is really happening in the cycling industry.

They discuss how e-bikes have evolved from niche products into mainstream transport, the impact of the Covid sales boom and the stock hangover that followed, and why infrastructure is still the biggest driver of meaningful growth.

The conversation also explores media misinformation around e-bikes, bike theft and tracking technology, and why the industry may have a marketing problem of its own making.

If you want a grounded, practical view of where cycling is heading and what needs to change, this episode breaks it down.

For more on cycling, security and industry insight, visit:
https://www.stolenride.co.uk