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BBC launches mobile broadcasting studio on a bicycle in the Netherlands

The initiative, called Bike Bureau, is launched by two journalists producing news from an e-cargo bike, but will we see it in the UK too?

Two BBC journalists have launched a mobile studio and office project called “Bike Bureau” in the Netherlands, where they will commute on an electric cargo bike with a complete broadcasting setup integrated within the bike, aiming to deliver TV and radio news in a “climate conscious way”.

The project, a “pragmatic and sustainable way” to carry out mobile journalism, has been in the works for the last few years, according to the BBC and is the brainchild of Anna Holligan, foreign correspondent at The Hague and Kate Vandy, senior journalist based in Brussels.

They chose the Netherlands to debut the first phase of Bike Bureau as it is the “perfect place to pilot this project”, said the co-creators.

“It contains all the kit we need for newsgathering, interviews, and to provide TV and radio lives connecting via our phones and transmitting around the world,” said Holligan, who is also the creator of a series called “Dutch News from the Cycle Path”, and has already racked up 10,000km on her bike while working, since switching from car to bike two years ago.

Vandy, who has produced television documentaries like “Climate Change on Trial” and “Europe's Cycling Revolution”, said that they hope Bike Bureau will “help the BBC achieve its goal to become the greenest broadcaster in the world”.

BBC said that "The Bike Bureau is an electric cargo bike, kitted out to offer solo-operated and solar-powered TV and radio lives. It's also used for newsgathering tasks." The co-creators added that through this project, they will “focus on solutions and track down positive stories and tech developments that could transform out lives”.

The move has been applauded by people on social media, with many finding it  "inspirational" and calling it a great "innovation", while a cycling campaign group pointed out: "Another job that often uses vans that can now be converted to cycles."

However, some also pointed out the choice of location for the project being Netherlands as "no surprise", since "the state of cycling infrastructure in the UK is so woeful".

BBC, as road.cc readers would know by now, has a controversial relationship with portraying cyclists and cycling infrastructure such as low-traffic neighbourhoods in media…

> BBC somehow turns David Byrne's Met Gala cycle into tedious helmet talk

Recently, the organisation came under fire from cyclists and climate advocates for its April’s Panorama episode titled “Road Wars: Neighbourhood Traffic Chaos” for featuring conspiracy theorists and right-wing lobby groups, pitting them against experts and academics in the name of providing balance and remaining impartial.

In November, Panorama broadcast “Road Rage: Cars v Bikes”, a curious title for a TV programme that if anything showed just how vulnerable people riding bikes are with motorists who overtake them too closely; or failed to see them altogether, as in one case highlighted in the episode that we reported on at the time.

> More experts, fewer conspiracy theorists on active travel TV shows please

And last year, another Panoramas investigation of “Britain’s Killer Roads” was also criticised for questioning if a reduction in police numbers, breath tests and speed cameras were to blame for the rising death rates on the UK roads, rather than holding those behind the wheel responsible.

We will wait to see if Bike Bureau’s phase two would consider plans to extend their project on Britain’s roads soon…

Adwitiya joined road.cc in 2023 as a news writer after graduating with a masters in journalism from Cardiff University. His dissertation focused on active travel, which soon threw him into the deep end of covering everything related to the two-wheeled tool, and now cycling is as big a part of his life as guitars and football. He has previously covered local and national politics for Voice Wales, and also likes to writes about science, tech and the environment, if he can find the time. Living right next to the Taff trail in the Welsh capital, you can find him trying to tackle the brutal climbs in the valleys.

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7 comments

Avatar
eburtthebike | 1 year ago
3 likes

I've heard some of the BBC broadcasts from Europe and they seem to be a lot more cycle-friendly than in the UK. 

It would be so good if the biggest UK broadcaster adopted this and used it in preference to motor vehicles whenever possible, demonstrating their commitment to going green and saving money.  [SLAP]  Sorry, don't know what came over me there, I'll go and lie down for ten minutes.

Avatar
ubercurmudgeon | 1 year ago
5 likes

BBC in Netherlands: "We're starting a Bike Bureau."

BBC TV: "We've done War on the Roads, and Road Rage: Cars v Bikes, so what next? I know, Raging Road Wars: Killer Death Slaugher."

BBC local radio: "Join in on our daily call-in, today's topic is How Annoying Are Cyclists: Very, Extremely, or Hang'em All."

Avatar
Sriracha | 1 year ago
12 likes

Bike Bureau? I thought they'd have called it The News Cycle, operated by the Spokesperson.

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HoldingOn replied to Sriracha | 1 year ago
0 likes

You chained those puns together nicely.

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chrisonabike | 1 year ago
1 like

All good work and good luck to the project.

Jeremy Vine is far from the only pedal-powered pundit. Just one example - I believe the interesting Visible Invisible Man - who may have popped up here also - already did quite a bit of bike-assisted reporting and some even in much less "bike-friendly places" like New York and the UK. (Sadly stopped blogging a while back. )

https://invisiblevisibleman.blogspot.com/?m=1

Avatar
hawkinspeter | 1 year ago
5 likes

I  can't see successful broadcasts using that in the UK. They'd be interupted by angry motorists telling them to get off the road, use the non-existent cycle path and wear a helmet.

Avatar
Sriracha replied to hawkinspeter | 1 year ago
0 likes

Does Berghaus do HiViz?

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