Panton Street - needs to be two-way for cycling
This area of town has lots of children having to cycle round the main road because there is one-way cycling - we should get the council to make it two way.
Issues
This section lists issues - problems on the street network and related matters.
Issues always relate to some geographical location, whether very local or perhaps city-wide.
You can create a new issue using the button on the right.
Listed issues, most recent first, limited to the area of Cambridge Cycling Campaign:
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138 homes on City FC site, Mitcham's Corner 12/1211/FUL
An application for 148 homes 11/0008/FUL was refused by Planning Committee(against officer recommendation) on 4 April. Cycle parking "storage" is generally less easy to reach than car parking, and it appears that for the central blocks it is proposed in a shared basement area - I haven't found the drawing for the basement.
There is no access to the site except by the narrow road around the existing Westbrook office block - the site is a deep enclave.
The issues for cycling are probably virtually identical to previously. One of various reasons for previous refusal was "...lack of transport mitigation measures..." and the Highways provisional comment on the current one outlines concerns. I fear that cycle and pedestrian access issues were not previously considered grounds for refusal and that therefore we might be fighting a lost cause... have contacted the officer about this, and hope to submit a comment for Sustrans.
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Ice Rink on Parker's Piece
There have been problems before with unsatisfactory cycle parking and obstruction of the paths across this busy green space. New people are providing the ice rink this year though.
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Carmageddon: Improving Congestion Message Signs in Cambridge
On Hills Rd Bridge (etc) a large message sign displaying 5 lines of text and two screens warns of delays because of upcoming building work in central Cambridge (Lensfield Rd etc)
I am minded to write to the city early on Monday
Re: Message signs warning of congestion due to street works
Dear Madam, Sir,
We would like to make an suggestion regarding the text displayed on the mobile message signs currently warning of major road works and congestion. Our suggestions would be to add the words “Thanks for cycling” and “Try the bicycle to avoid delays” (alternating).
We believe it is entirely appropriate to use any major road-works as an opportunity to encourage the use of active transportation, because it is proven to reduce congestion. Such messages will also deliver an important message about the status of cycling in the city. The expression of gratitude expressed in the first suggestion is especially important, as it sets a tone of public appreciation.
We would also like to remind you that a recent Freeway closure in Los Angeles was widely advertised by local authorities as “Carmageddon” and residents were encouraged to participate in local bike rides, organised by the regional transportation authority (METRO), to overcome the expected delays. Given our own little Carmageddon, should Cambridge not do the same ?
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Feedback please, contacts, CCs to the press, Travel to work, etc -
Mitcham's Corner redevelopment
http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/News/Development-plan-for-Mitchams-Corner-unveiled-28092012.htm
In summary: Staples and Lloyd’s bank are due to be demolished in this redevelopment. There's a consultation meeting next Friday from 2-7pm and on Saturday from 10am - 2pm at The Tivoli pub which is opposite.
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Sustrans to Visit Cambridge
Jim C raised this in an email to SUSTRANS: ...if staff from the London office would find an 'Awayday' in Cambridge an interesting outing?
> Cambridge can be great in the spring, and if a trip is in term time
you can see just the sorts of diverse cycles and cyclists (diversity)
>
> I'm sure we can create a good itinerary, covering innovative
locations, tourist hotspots, and key cycle facilities.
>
> As I said at the time, why go 'Dutch' to see examples of cycle
culture, when in Cambridge you can see what can be achieved in the UK. -
International Cycling Safety Conference 2012, Helmond (NL)
International Cycling Safety Conference 2012, 7 Nov
Location: Helmond, The Netherlands
Costs: 150 Euro
Twitter hashtag: #safecycling2012 -
Business Improvement District (BID) proposal
Proposal for a Business Improvement District which would replace (?) "Love Cambridge". http://www.cbbid.co.uk/
Proposal is all about safety, cleanliness, city ambassadors, ultimately revenue
Beverly Carpenter from millroadsociety.org has a very spirited and serious response in the local paper
http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Home/Bidding-to-make-the-most-from-city-12092012.htm (does not include the "threat to diversity" argument present in the print version)
She calls it an attempt to privatise public space, privatise policing, (BID's don't honor Freedom of information requests) and turning the city centre into a shopping centre
I have seen these BIDs working in other places: ambassadors whizzing around on strange wheeled things, trying to enforce "no cycling" rules, but also a large budget which funded an annual festival.
The proposal has no language about car parking this is a topic that needs to be very closely watched from the bicycle saddle.
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Qualitative Cycle Infrastructure Assessment
What if we could create a standardised method of assessing cycling infrastructure, either proposed by developers or existing?
Northstowe used something called the "IHT Cycle Audit Guidelines" that appear to be from 1996. Perhaps something better can be done that follows a more continental approach?
Thoughts? Opinions?
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Link needed from Guided Bus to Hills Road Bridge
This is a proposal for a link joining the Guided Busway cycleway and Hills Road bridge.
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Developer contributions - S106
Several meetings, in each area committee location to discuss s106 money and how it should be spent. Details below.
http://www.cambridge.gov.uk/ccm/content/planning-and-building-control/developer-contributions.en
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Transport Corridor Funding
On a bi-annual basis, the funding for S106 projects is to be reviewed with Area Committee recommendations going to Cabinet for final approval.
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12/1071/FUL Change of use from Pool and Snooker club
This is a change of use application to turn Mickey Flynns from a snooker hall to shops, financial services and a café.
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Cambourne Retail Planning Application S/1666/12/F
Planning application for 5 retail units - cycle parking required.
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Joshua Taylor - change of use
Change of use for the former Joshua Taylor building to provide 12 residential units over three floors.
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Whittlesford Station
The possibility of a new cycle/walking route from Whittlesford station in part using funds from proposed adjacent development (Relocation of Welches transport depot from Stapleford/Shelford
The platform which is c 264m long extends beneath A505 overbridge.
Longest trains are 240m (12 coaches). This route was investigated some 10 years ago.
Greater Anglia say a route is not possible. I regard this as a stuck rather than locked door.
It may be possible with the use of a fence to take over all of last few metres or to have half (if half cyclist dismount signs may be needed)
As a very last resort to may be REQUIRED for those with bikes to walk.
I can see no reason why a walking route cannot be permitted.
Any 'risk' crossing A505 at grade must be orders of magnitude greater than using end of platform! -
Location Fees for Cycle Free Filming
"Anyone who uses the racks in St John's Street, Trinity Street, and King's Parade, may have seen notices about filming this week. They're suspending cycle parking for Wednesday and Thursday 'due to the nature of the filming'. The mind boggles" (Bev)
The suspension notice (elevation, lifting?) says "We have been working with Cambridge council to achieve this. " This phrase probably means that the production company has negotiated a location fee with the city council for filming on Cambridge streets, and to film "bike free". If it is correct that the CCC represents Cambridge Cyclists, and in so far as our constituency bears the impact of this "suspension", we would be well placed to receive some compensation for the inconvenience forced upon local cyclists. 1000 £ or 2000 £ could buy us a lot of bike badges (pins), including blue ones of course
http://www.cambridge.gov.uk/ccm/content/business/licensing-and-permissions/filming.en
citycentremanagement@cambridge.gov.uk -
12/1040/FUL 6 houses, internal access road parking
Two 5 bed houses, five 4 bed houses, internal access road plus car and cycle parking.
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Poor-quality cycle parking at Geography Department
Poor-quality cycle parking at Geography.
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12/1014/FUL New shop front for Unit 5, CB1 development
A new shop front for a Co-op store with an ATM to the side elevation.
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12/0968/FUL Installation of one bike stand
The installation of one stand in the boundary of M&S facing Market Hill Square.
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12/0925/FUL Removal of cycle shed and build a new timber furniture store
Madgelene College (at Cripps Court) wish to remove a cycle shed in order to build a timber furniture store. The design and access statement, justifying this, says that few of the racks are used.
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12/0929/FUL NIAB site external works
External works including pedestrian access ramp, alterations to bin storage, covered cycle parking, staff and visitor car parking etc.
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12/0966/FUL Erection of 6 studio units and a retail unit
8 cycle racks shown in the ground floor plan. A retail unit is likely to have some effect on traffic.
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12/0967/CAC Demolition of 191-193 Mill Road
An application to demolish 191 and 193 Mill Road (opposite St Phillip's Church and replace with 6 studio units and a retail unit. It's a conservation area.
This map shows all issues, whether points, routes, or areas:
The most popular issues, based on the number of votes:
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Babraham P&R to Addenbrookes cycleway
Out of the A1307 Linton Greenway consultation has come a plan for the section between Addenbrooke's roundabout and the Babraham P&R, which the county/GCP are keen to move forward. There was an initial invite-only consultation event on Thur 31st Jan for local residents/residents associations to comment.
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Spicer's Site Sawston (Formerly CDC Building)
Huawei plans to develop R & D superhub at the 550-acre Spicer's Site in Sawston.
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Cherry Hinton Road improvements
The County Council have a consultation running on "improvements along Cherry Hinton Road, Cambridge, to make it safer and more attractive for walking and cycling" between Hills road and Perne Road.
The consultation runs until Tuesday 18 June. There are two consultation events at Rock Road Library, 69 Rock Road, Cambridge on Tuesday 21 May and Tuesday 21 May.
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Coldhams Lane
The road is unloved, has very few trees, has a lot of traffic, moving fast or jammed. Air quality is poor. Cyclists cycle along the pavement very fast which is dangerous for pedestrians. The cycle lanes on the road are not safe. It is difficult for cyclists to cross the road since there are not enough crossings. A lot of people park near Coldhams Common on Saturdays. Many people have created driveways to avoid people parking in front of their houses in the parking bays. Crossing the little roads (Brampton, Vinery Road, Vinery Way) is difficult because the cars block the path as they wait to get onto Coldhams Lane and greenery prevents pedestrians from going behind those cars.
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Dangerous Snakey Path trail
I am cycling on the snakey trail every day, and there is a high risk that somebody falls into the Cherry Hinton Brook one day. The path and bridge is really too narrow and many people are taking it both ways.
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Trumpington busway - campaign for improvements
As described in the winter 2019 Camcycle magazine there is a group working on getting some improvements to the Trumpington busway. The magazine concentrates on the northern end of the busway but we are also seeking upgrades to the Addenbrookes spur junction and the crossing at Hobson Avenue/Lime Avenue as well as adding pedestrian footpath from the Hills Road Bridge all the way to Drury Avenue.
The group would like to start getting this out to users of the path for input, discussion and help with campaigning. Many Biomedical Campus commuters presumably use this path frequently, even daily. It would be great to get some input.
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New barrier on Addenbrookes busway bridge
A new set of barriers has appeared on the hospital side of the usway bridge at Addenbrookes.
Creates the usual set of problems for cargo bikes and less confident bike users, with the added bonus of being on a steep hill that ices up regularly, and right next to a busway with a record of squishing people who fall onto it. -
E-scooters and micromobility
The government has announced it will hold a consultation on the introduction of the battery-powered scooters to British roads.
What are the implications for people cycling, walking and scooting?
What is Camcycle's position/policy about e-scooters?
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Fitzroy Lane has no pavement
Fitzroy Lane is a major walking route to the Grafton Centre, but bizarrely has no pavement.
One of the two parking queuing lanes should be removed, and pavements added on at least the east side of the street, if not both sides.
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Hostile driving on Red Cross Lane
"Daily parking wars make Red Cross Lane dangerous"
See: https://www.camcycle.org.uk/newsletters/146/nl146.pdf
Need to improve this area for cycling and walking.
Red Cross Lane and Greenlands are marked for 20mph and they're very narrow streets barely two cars wide.
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Huntingdon Road: Girton Corner area improvements needed
The A14 project is bringing a cycleway into the city as far as the University farm. Previous County projects have created a decent inbound cycleway from Laurence Weaver Road and an almost OK painted lane outbound to here. There's a section of cycleway from Girton Corner to Eddington Avenue, and at Girton Corner there's a connection to The Ridgeway along Bunker's Hill. There are Cycleways intercepting Huntingdon Road at Whitehouse Lane, both into Eddington and into Darwin Green.
But oh dear. Laurence Weaver Road junction is awful. Eddington Avenue junction is awful, and there's a very narrow and much over-run cycle lane to the north of it. Girton Corner junction is poor and serves poorly those who want to go from Girton village and College to the Ridgeway.
The section of road needs a holistic approach that incorporates the route along and the routes crossing in a coherent manner. -
insufficient visibility due to solid building site boundary
The site for the new building between in the triangle between the cycle path the busway, and non-busway road has a solid hoarding around it. To help visibility, the solid hoardings have been removed for 3 panels on the cycle path side, and only 2 on the road side, so traffic has greater visibility of cyclists that cyclists have of motor vehicles - so vehicles assume there is nothing coming and slow down less than they should.
To increase visibility on the corner, the third solid panel should be replaced with the mesh fencing, as has already been done for the first two on the other side.
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Mere Way ( ancient path )
This ancient right of way is used by cyclists ,horse riders and walkers and is becoming un approachable with no drop kerbs and
with new roads being built that ignore the existence of this route and lack of clear signage , we are in danger of losing this
important route .
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S/3018/15/COND5 Northstowe Phase 1 cycle routes details
Surfacing includes gravel and grit.
Cycle chicanes shown on diagrams.
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20/04969/FUL: Extensions and alterations to Babbage House, CB3 0AT
20/04969/FUL: Three storey front and rear extensions, alterations to the office building, replacement cycle store, new plant compound and installation of EV charging points.
Babbage House, Castle Park, Cambridge, CB3 0AT
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CBC Wayfinding Survey
Cambridge Biomedical Campus (CBC) is currently in the process of developing a new wayfinding system for the communal, external spaces within the campus. This system will include new maps and signage to improve navigation in public spaces for staff, patients and visitors to the site and help to reduce stress when visiting the campus. In order to fully understand how the campus is currently used and the key issues, we would like to gain your invaluable input.
Note that the new wayfinding system will be focussing on the public space rather than the internal space of individual buildings, please limit your feedback to your experience of finding your way through the external public space on campus. Thank you in advance. -
Cambridge Children's Hospital
A children's hospital is planned for the Biomedical Campus (Addenbrookes) and is planned to open in 2025.
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Removing exclusionary barriers across Cambridgeshire
Camcycle's time and energy is consistently taken up removing exclusionary barriers (e.g. Biomedical Campus, A14 active travel bridges, Warren Road). We need to consider long-term ways to prevent new barriers going in and remove existing ones which prevent people of all ages and abilities cycling.
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Long wait to cross Busway / Station Road, Histon
Pedestrians and cyclists at the toucan crossing where the busway meets Station Road, Histon have to wait a long time for the lights to change even if there is zero bus or road traffic.
This seems inconsistent with Highway Code rule H1 about the hierarchy of road users. Pedestrians should have priority over non-existent buses!
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Unlit post hazard
Where the path splits there is a marker post that is completely invisible at night. It should be fitted with reflective material or removed.
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Downing College now banning cycling through their grounds
Downing College are cracking down further on people cycling through the area. Gate now moved and is locked.
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Abuse for not using cyclepath
People cycling being abused by drivers for not using cyclepaths, even where they are sub-standard or useless.
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Poor road quality on Newmarket Road
It has an uneven degraded surface in the cycle lanes from the Elizabeth Way roundabout until the bridge.
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Visibility at Perne Road / Cherry Hinton Road junction
It is intimidating to use this roundabout because of the high shrubbery in the middle. It is supposed to slow traffic down but my subjective feeling is that it doesn't
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A14 Histon Interchange is Hostile to Bikes
The A14 Histon Interchange is hostile to bikes as their is no way to safely cross the entrance slip roads onto the A14.