Popup cycle lanes have just made cycling into town much easier
Environmental group Extinction Rebellion are thought to be behind the paths - which provide a bike route "from the Trafford border to the Deansgate Interchange."
Images showing popup cycle lanes appearing in Manchester have surfaced on Twitter.
The pictures show marked roads being separated by cones and arrow signs – with a notice sat at the top of one lane containing a message that says: “M.C.C. why no popup cycle lanes here?”
Environmental group Extinction Rebellion are thought to be behind the popup lanes on the A56 – which provide a bike route “from the Trafford border to the Deansgate Interchange.”
This morning a group of local residents from @XR_MCR took matters into their own hands to create a lane to link the A56 pop-up lane from Trafford over the border into Manchester and on to safety. Just 300 yards or so – but bizarrely ignored for last 3 weeks by @ManCityCouncilhttps://t.co/0Dg3jOOvlZpic.twitter.com/PwYkd8PIZJ
The popup cycle lanes, which appear to have been built without approval from Manchester City Council, have sparked debate among road users.
Some have applauded the move whilst others are anticipating the lane’s swift removal – as the council could potentially regard the paths as being unsafe.
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Some new cycle lanes in Manchester have already vanished after drivers complained of additional traffic, with one route in Timperley being built over the past weekend and then disappearing by Tuesday morning.
Extinction Rebellion are now appearing to build their own paths instead.
According to reports, councils within the Greater Manchester region have submitted a joint bid for £21.5m of government money which will be put towards a 200km pop-up cycle network.
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Man charged with rape of 17-year-old girl near Piccadilly Gardens
Emily Sergeant
A man is due to appear in court today after being charged with the rape of a 17-year-old girl near Piccadilly Gardens last month.
A 24-year-old Afghan man, who has been formally named by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) as Abdul Shinwari, of no fixed abode, has been charged with two counts of rape, two counts of sexual assault, non-fatal strangulation, and possession with intent to supply.
He was charged following reports of the rape of a 17-year-old girl on Hope Street, near Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester city centre.
The shocking incident happened at around 1:30am on Tuesday 14 July 2026, and specialist safeguarding officers have been continuing to support the victim ever since.
Shinwari was remanded in custody following his arrest, and is now due to appear at Manchester Crown Court today (25 August 2026).
There have been no further police statements on the matter at this time.
News of this incident comes after it was announced earlier this year that a new police hub was to set to be established in Piccadilly Gardens.
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Local leaders said at the start of 2026 that their ambition for the year was to maintain a ‘high-performing’ police service by tackling crime and anti-social behaviour, and protecting residents and businesses along the way.
And part of this ambition was to increase police visibility in Piccadilly Gardens, which is a much-maligned part of the city centre, by launching a new ‘prominent’ police hub.
Race Across The World star Jo Gardiner dies just one year after co-star son
Daisy Jackson
A Race Across The World star from Manchester has died just one year after her son and co-star tragically passed away.
Jo Gardiner, who starred on the hit BBC series back in 2020, died after a ‘long and courageous battle’ with cancer, her family has said.
The 61-year-old physiotherapist appeared on the second season of the travel competition, racing across Latin America with her son Sam Gardiner, who was just 19 at the time.
The pair became a fan favourite as they bonded over their travels, and Sam gained confidence to explore despite his ADHD.
Tragically, Sam passed away last May at the age of 24, following a vehicle collision in Gatley.
Paying tribute to Jo, Studio Lambert and the BBC described her as ‘the matriarch of the Race Across The World cast family’.
In the tribute, they also sent ‘deepest and heartfelt sympathies to Jo’s son Charlie’.
Jo’s family shared in a statement: “She had a rare gift for making everyone around her feel more alive. She lived fully, fiercely and never did anything by halves.
“She was blessed with countless friends, drawn to her extraordinary magnetism. Somehow, each one felt as though they were among her very best.
Jo Gardiner, from Manchester, starred on season two of Race Across The World. Credit: BBC
“To us, she was more than all of these things. She was our family, our joy, our safe place and our absolute treasure.
“We know how deeply Jo was loved, and we take comfort in knowing that her laughter, her courage, her kindness and her wonderfully outrageous spirit will live on in the many people whose lives she touched.
“As we grieve, we ask for privacy, but we also ask everyone who knew and loved Jo to do exactly what she would have wanted: tell the funny stories, raise a glass, have an adventure, laugh loudly and live life to the full.”
Studio Lambert and the BBC shared: “On behalf of the Studio Lambert production team, the BBC and the whole Race Across The World cast, we offer our deepest and heartfelt sympathies to Jo’s son Charlie, and her wider family and friends.
“Following the tragic death of Jo’s son Sam last year, we paid tribute to how integral Sam and Jo had been to series two. Millions of people remembered their transformative journey across Latin America in 2020 and we hold that memory in our hearts as we fondly recall Jo’s passion for life, her kindness, her strength, and above all her utter devotion to Sam and her family.
“At the time of filming, Sam described his mum as amazing – and that is how we will always remember her.
“Jo became the matriarch of the Race Across the World cast family, she leaves a lasting legacy in the many lives that she touched, both through the series and beyond. It was a privilege to share her story and she will be deeply missed.”