Although the five year old was horrified by the fish counter

There aren’t the words for french supermarkets

My latest column www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Cycling Scotland Chief Exec Keith Irving highlights calls for action to remove illegally modified electric motorbikes from our roads. "This is a complex issue to tackle where one straightforward objective needs emphasised – keeping everyone safe with a harm-reduction approach."

Fitting that the final leg of my journey back from @velo-city-conference.com was a Voi bike home, cycling back up one of the cycle lanes I talked about in my presentation. Fab to be back in Glasgow in the sun 🌞 and now time to go squeeze my boys 💗

I have never seen as many older folks on bikes as I have in Rimini.

London baby! Viccy line south to spend the night with some very old pals. After lots of meeting new friendly faces over the past week there’s something special about seeing people who have been in your life for a solid three (almost four) decades 💙

The Clyde at low tide, 10pm yesterday

Although, have to say, this feels like a good depiction of my initial impressions of Milan. Heartbreaking to see how many people had been without a safe space to sleep at Central station this morning.

The journey home begins. A quick layover in Milan gave the chance to spot decent number of well used separate cycle lanes, and the stunning Duomo.

Dream team! Brilliant to speak alongside new friends Finnish Cyclists Federation, Fietserbond Belgium, Capital Region Denmark, @swhitebread.bsky.social from @cyclinguk.bsky.social and Chris @modacitylife.com @dutchcycling.nl on cycling in the media, language choice, and positive, inclusive stories.

High five to whoever at @velo-city-conference.com thought a gelato bike was a good idea for the afternoon refreshments (and dreaming of one for our own conf!)

“Through it all, the bike has been a symbol of peace building and freedom of movement”: a cheer of solidarity from the room for Ukraine 🇺🇦

Standout session: “Advancing cycling in challenging political contexts”, facilitated by @ecf.com with speakers presenting how they continue the case for cycling in the face of political stalemate, prohibitive legislation, funding reform and war.

Facilitated by @modacitylife.com, an inspiring session on Women Changing Cities @velo-city-conference.com. We heard from Silvia Cassorran, Amanda Ngabirano (my personal hero) and Iden Petrej on the tactics, tenacity and vision of female leaders to get things done.

🍃 Great to be able to cycle to @velo-city-conference.com along leafy park corridors and a reminder that what we’re all working towards isn’t complicated. Provide access to bikes + somewhere safe (even beautiful!) to cycle, and more people will, from grandads to teenage girls, kids to commuters ✨

Big breaths navigating Milan Central station at rush hour 😵‍💫

An hour or so between trains in Basel meant I could have a quick look at the underground bike parking and grab some bits for a train picnic. Just amazing seeing so many bikes and people cycling. Cute book exchange and quiet seating area/charging spots in the station too.

Gasped in dorky delight at: - tactile paving in Gare de Lyon, leading to each platform - double decker trains (never gets old) - the strength of this coffee

Arrived into Paris, navigated the (very hot Metro system) and greeted by an astonishing amount of bikes plus some golden light at dusk.

First change from Euston to St Pancras gave me the chance to check out some of the new protected lanes, and a well timed cement mixer perfectly demonstrates why they’re needed. I used to cycle this route back when there was nothing and WHAT a difference: good job, London.

Travelling back from @velo-city-conference.com and, like all good comms people ( 🤦🏻‍♀️), finally getting around to posting a couple of days late… Feels like a long time ago that I left Glasgow, running for the train delayed by a little guy’s big emotions 💔

🎉 Brilliant news that a pilot project restoring old bikes and giving them back to communities has won a Scottish Transport Award! Skills for employment, waste reduction, and changing lives by giving bikes to children and young people who'd otherwise face financial barriers to cycling.

This time next week I'll be on the train to @velo-city-conference.com in Italy🌍 Very excited to join fellow advocates from around the world, and present on we can combine evidence with positive, compelling stories, language and imagery to shift perspectives and support progress for active travel.

“The heatwave might be over for now, but the drownings will keep happening”: my piece in the @scotsman.com

My bike is a massive part of my life: it helps with school and nursery drop-offs, gets me to work quickly, gives me exercise when I don’t have much time, headspace when I need it, and it helps me to be a better mum. We need more infrastructure & improved safety so everyone can benefit #WorldBikeDay

The road doesn't need dualling, it needs average speed cameras and lowered and enforced speed limits. That would be quicker, and cheaper to implement as well as saving more lives. www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-e...

Strong recommend nipping to @glasgowschoolofart.bsky.social Degree Show on your lunch break, taking a look at the next generation of makers, creators and artists

All the active travel love / frustration / joy at today's brilliant @pedalonparliament.org as thousands of regular folk took to their wheels calling for a cycle-friendly Scotland with safer streets for all 👍🚲🛴👍🚶👍 Bumper photo album > andycatlin.myportfolio.com/pedal-on-par...

Drownings should not be an inevitable part of our summers, and it’s one of the many reasons by I feel so compelled to write about what needs to change. My thoughts go out to the families of those we've lost over the past couple of days.  www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

The smallest Parkrun volunteer for the hilliest of courses 😅

A quiet moment in the middle of taking photos of #BikeabilityScotland training. Pupils were fab, practising their safe starts/stops, right-turns and passing parked cars. Brilliant to see their confidence and decision-making.

Bluebells, boats and and a birthday cake. Beautiful day over on Inchcailloch (and special shout-out to the warden who gave my son lots of info on dung beetles!)

"Our cities are workplaces": riders, drivers, carers + app-based workers are everywhere, but you rarely hear their voices. Thought-provoking series from @workersobservatory.org on improving work in the gig economy open.spotify.com/show/2xiI0V1...

Five year old’s first vote ✅ Highlight that he got to go and check out a different primary school’s playground 👀 #bikesatpollingstations

Belter of a day up in the hills: skylarks, a cuckoo, a wren and a swim in a stream!

“Mummy, why are you crying?” We just watched history, kid #sawe #londonmarathon ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

Making it safer and easier for people to travel by bike helps to address transport poverty. Cycle lanes, like this one in Glasgow, connecting communities to the city centre, reflect the everyday journeys that people make, helping them to get from home to work, school, shops and vital services.

What. A. Day.

We've seen a lot of divisive language and misinformation about people seeking safety lately. This is the reality of claiming asylum and being a refugee in Scotland 👇

#SouthCityWay jumping today. This pic doesn't do it justice (I was caught in crowds of 10-20 at a time on the way in this morning, which tbh is the new normal). Infra like this making a huge difference. 🚲🚲🚲

Can’t stop, won’t stop

Finished @robgmacfarlane.bsky.social’s Is A River Alive, and could have underlined the whole thing. A call to arms to protect our waterways.

📣 #CyclingScotlandConf keynote speaker news! Faith leader Zara Mohammed joins us to share her work supporting civil society organisations with inclusive practice, including as a cycle leader on projects helping diverse communities access nature. 📍 Perth 📅 16 Sept 2026 👉 Info: buff.ly/QRHU32n

'How impressive! Yesterday, the longest car-free bridge in the world – and the longest bridge in Finland – was opened in Helsinki, ahead of schedule. Spanning 1.2 km, the Kruunuvuorensilta connects the city centre with the outskirts and is open only to pedestrians, cyclists and trams'.

A weekend with my Dundee gals: cancelled ferries = pivoting and positivity, and the joy of finally making it back to Berneray. Basic point but transport key issue here for election: ferries were the main topic of conversation, road quality around tourist spots, connectivity of public transport.

The end of yesterday’s lunchtime walk 💘

Easter in the lakes: big breaths of fresh air, Storm Dave, blackthorn in blossom, up at the stone circle, lots of choc, and panning for gold at the mining musuem (“the weirdest place I’ve ever been” in the words of my father-in-law). Lush.

I got another hour on Bode's galaxy last night. This is a rough cut, processed just on my phone, but shared today as a reminder of what's above your head all the time