Key terms
We're working towards a glossary of key terms to help members and the public.
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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20/02871/FUL: Erection of 1no. dwelling adjacent to No.30 Caravere Close
20/02871/FUL | Erection of 1no. dwelling adjacent to No.30 Caravere Close - Resubmission of 19/0774/FUL | 30 Caravere Close Cambridge CB4 2UG.
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20/02869/FUL: conversion of single dwelling into 2 dwellings, Silverwood Close
20/02869/FUL | Conversion of single dwelling into two separate dwellings complete with additional rear extensions and loft conversion to main dwelling | 1 Silverwood Close Cambridge CB1 3HA
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20/02821/FUL: large HMO (8 person), Moss Bank
20/02821/FUL: Change of use from HMO (use class C4) to large HMO (8 person) (sui generis)
4 Moss Bank Cambridge CB4 1UR
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Abbeygate House, East Road consultation
This is a consultation about Abbeygate House
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19/0261/NMA1: Community Centre, 8 flats, 6 maisonettes (following demolition)
19/0261/NMA1 | Non-material amendment with respect to planning permission reference 19/0261/FUL (Erection of 3 no. retail units (2 x use class A1 and 1 x use class A5), 1no. Community Centre (use class D1) and provision of 14 no. dwellings (8 flats and 6 maisonettes) following demolition of existing commercial units and flats).) The amendments sought are the introduction of additional doors to the northern elevation of Block B, and the provision of a new external cycle store to Block B. | 74-82 Akeman Street Cambridge Cambridgeshire CB4 3HG
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England's Economic Heartland
http://www.englandseconomicheartland.com/
"About us
Stretching from Swindon to Cambridgeshire and from Northamptonshire to Hertfordshire, England’s Economic Heartland brings political and business leaders together in a strategic collaborative partnership with a shared commitment to realise the region's economic potential.
We provide the region’s voice on strategic infrastructure and services. Our leadership is focused on addressing barriers to realising our potential.
• We are the Sub-national Transport Body for the region. Our overarching Transport Strategy will be a 30 year strategic vision for our transport system that puts the needs of businesses and individuals at the forefront of investment decisions• Our work on wider strategic infrastructure is focused on making sure investment in transport, digital and utilities infrastructure is ‘joined up’
• Our work with our delivery partners is focused on identifying investment priorities, getting the funding secured and then delivering improvements to budget and on-time.
Working in collaboration with Government and partners across the Heartland, we are committed to creating places where people and business realise their potential, and are able to compete on the global stage for UK plc.Our 5.1m population and 280,000 business together generate around £155 billion GVA. We have a 21st century economy, particularly rich in high value engineering, science, technology and research. Most of our firms are small or medium sized enterprises with many based in rural or semi-rural areas.
Overall, our economy is successful and we’re a net contributor to the exchequer. However, the National Infrastructure Commission believes our economy could double or even triple in size. But it also warns this opportunity cannot be taken for granted.
Indeed, our success already comes at a price. Economic growth combined with underinvestment in infrastructure and services means that the pressure on our transport, digital and wider infrastructure networks has grown to the point where they operate close to capacity most of the time. The resilience of our networks has dropped, affecting business productivity and making travel for individuals increasingly challenging.
Our transport system continues to be dominated by the legacy of investment that left us with a largely radial pattern of strategic networks centred on London. Travel across the Heartland – and in particular east-west – is hamstrung by poor connectivity and poor integration.
Digital connectivity remains a challenge at a time when lifestyle and business changes mean our demands and expectations of digital infrastructure continue to increase. And economic success brings with it further pressure on wider strategic infrastructure, including power and water supplies.
England’s Economic Heartland is the response of strategic political and business leaders to overcome these challenges, with investment in strategic infrastructure and services key to realising our potential."
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Cycle racks in Waterbeach
Waterbeach Cycle Campaign has received a Zero Carbon Communities grant from SCDC for installation of some badly needed cycle racks in the village centre. We have consulted with villagers about their preferences for their location and the Parish Council has approved the installation in those locations.
We need to arrange for the installation
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20/02791/FUL: construction of 7 apartments & commercial space, Green End Road
Demolition of no. 196 and No. 198 Green End Road and construction of 7no. Apartments (5no. 2bed, 1 3bed and 1no 1bed) and commercial space.
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20/01968/FUL: conversion into 2x 1bed flats, 15 Royal Albert Homes, Hills Rd
Conversion of existing property into 2no 1bed flats involving external alterations including blocking up an existing door, replacement windows, and the erection of a single storey lean-to extension to the rear. No additional cycle parking.
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20/02568/FUL Hybrid planning application - Bourn Quarter Business Park
Hybrid planning application consisting of full planning permission for Phase 1 and outline planning permission with all matters reserved except access for Phase 2 of the redevelopment of the former Gestamp Factory site at Bourn Airfield for up to 26,757sqm/288,000sqft of commercial floorspace purposes (use class B1c light industry, B1b research and development and B8 warehouse and distribution with supplementary use classes A3 restaurant and cafe, D1 day nursery/creche, D2 gym), associated car parking and service yards, external earthworks, attenuation basins and landscaping.
Fomer Gestamp Factory Bourn Airfield St Neots Road Bourn Cambridgeshire
Cambridge
Application reference : 20/02568/FUL
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South Cambridge Cycling Improvement Programme
This programme makes recommendations to the Highways and Transport Committee.
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Think Communities - approach to support locals in tackling road safety
This thread describes a mechanism by which local communities can engage with decision-making bodies in order to achieve progress in their areas.
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Vision Zero Partnership
The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Road Safety Partnership has been renamed 'Vision Zero Partnership' for the next stage in its strategy, spanning 2020-2030.
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County Council - Highways and Transport Committee
New thread for committee meetings
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Multiple potholes descending Hills Rd rail bridge
The cycle lane on the Northside of the Hills Rd rail bridge has many potholes where the red tarmac surface is missing. This is extremely hazardous for cyclists to avoid whilst descending with car lanes on either side. You could easily fall off into the path of motor traffic.
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CCC/20/040/FUL Hauxton - Southwest Park & Ride + new NMU bridge
CCC/20/040/FUL | Proposed Travel Hub, to include car parking, cycle, coach, and horse parking, travel hub building, photovoltaic panels, substation, lighting; significant infrastructure improvements to include road widening of the A10 along Cambridge Road, Hauxton Road and M11 Junction 11 north bound slip road, and a new dedicated busway to include strengthening of existing agricultural bridge; provision for a new Shared Use Path, including new bridge across the M11; with associated drainage, landscaping (including reconfiguration of bunds), biodiversity enhancement areas and infrastructure. | Land To The North/north-west Of Hauxton Road (A10), To The North-west And North Of Junction 11 Of The M11 And To The West Of Cambridge Road (A10) CB22 5HT
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20/02578/S73 Marleigh - remove condition 58: Toucan crossing of Ditton Lane
20/02578/S73 | Removal of condition 58 (Toucan crossing at the junction of Ditton Lane with Newmarket Road) of planning permission S/2682/13/OL | Land North Of Newmarket Road Fen Ditton Cambridge South Cambridgeshire CB5 8AA
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20/02460/FUL: 21 new dwellings, land north of Bannold Rd, Waterbeach
Mention of safety for cyclists on roads leading to houses but no detail. Lacking detail of safety for storage of bikes and access for them.
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Milton Road cycle/foot paths narrow and/or blocked
City Fibre commenced fibre-laying work on Milton Road in mid-June, digging trenches on both sides of the road at various locations between Downhams Lane and Gilbert Road, mostly on the north-west side.
This has reduced the combined width of the dual-direction cycle lane and pavement down to about 2 feet in places, often preventing cyclists/pedestrians from being able to physically pass each other. In some places, the footpath and cycle lane have been completely blocked with barriers for periods of time, forcing people into the main traffic lanes. In one of these places, keep-left signs have been put up next to the kerb in the reverse direction, implying that cyclists on the path should go into the traffic lane on the wrong side of the road. Social distancing for Covid-19 is obviously not possible in much of this area now, particularly when groups of workers are standing closely together in the remaining narrow path itself next to the work sites.
This has coincided with the re-opening of the primary schools and there are quite a few people using the paths. I've had to stop my kid cycling to school as we no longer have safe route down there.
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53 serviced appartments, Queen Edith's Way
The erection of new buildings to provide 53 serviced apartments (sui generis) together with hard and soft landscaping, basement car parking spaces and associated infrastructure and works | Land At 11 Queen Ediths Way Cambridge Cambridgeshire.
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20/02318/FUL: alterations to existing guest house to form 4 dwellings, Arbury Rd
20/02318/FUL | Second floor rear extension and alterations to existing guest house and apartments to form 4 dwellings.
55-57 Arbury Road, Cambridge, CB4 2JB.
NO CYCLING PROVISION.
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20/02160/FUL: New 3 storey building (10 units), 4 Highworth Avenue
Proposed plan: Demolition of existing building and construction of a new 3 storey residential building comprising 10 units (net increase of nine) along with access, cycle parking and associated infrastructure.
Bike store for 14 cycles, unclear what kind of fastenings (Sheffield stands/other). Is it big enough to enable cycles in the furthest cycle spaces to manoeuvre in/out? Is the entrance wide enough to accommodate movement of adapted bikes?
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20/02564/S73: Construction of 6 storey office building, Station Rd, CB1 2JD
Section 73 application to vary condition 2 of permission 15/0864/FUL: will 254 cycle parking spaces be sufficient for this office space?
Demolition of Leda House and construction of a new 6 storey office building comprising 7421sq.m (GEA) of office floorspace (Class B1); 254 cycle parking spaces; associated plant; hard and soft landscaping; a basement with 40 car parking spaces and 5 motorcycle bays; infrastructure works including basement car park ramp (Scheme B) to permit improved fire escape provision, enhanced cycle facilities and revised elevational treatment.
Location: 20 Station Road, Cambridge, CB1 2JD
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20/02223/FUL: new 2 bed dwelling to replace existing garage, CB3 0HH
Proposed new 1.5 story, 2 bed dwelling with basement to replace existing garage at rear of 34 Huntingdon Road CB3 OHH.
Cycle store 220x120. Is this sufficient for a two bed dwelling (where we assume 2x bikes)?
This map shows all issues, whether points, routes, or areas:
The most popular issues, based on the number of votes:
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Injustices for the peace.
What to do about disgraceful decisions like this:
http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Driver-ran-Cambridge-cyclist-mistakenly-thinking/story-24555273-detail/story.html ?Clearly, the magistrate erred seriously in matters of both fact and law - all the prosecution had to prove was that the way he drives falls below what would be expected of a competent and careful driver.
Equally clearly, it did - nobody who could possibly be described as "competent and careful" would run over something the size of a cyclist without even being aware of it. He even admitted that he was talking on the phone at the time.
It staggers the mind to think what on earth the magistrates were thinking - or what with. Maybe they slept through the case, so didn't hear the prosecution, but were woken up for the defence (how there can be any defence for that is beyond me). Maybe they are dangerous drivers themselves, so sympathise with others of the same ilk instead of adequately discharging the responsibilities they are charged with? Mark Tyler also deserves complete contempt for not pleading guilty, and so preventing this gross miscarriage of justice. He should have been thanking his lucky stars that the police and CPS are so incompetent as not to pursue Dangerous driving, which it equally clearly was.How can we get rid of incompetent idiots like Phil King (the lead magistrate in this case) who asserted that "there were “significant gaps” in the evidence". It is obvious to me that this dangerous idiot is perverting the course of justice by remaining in his position.
Presumably his colleagues on the bench conspired with him in this perversion - they could (and should) have over-ruled him unless they were parties to the conspiracy, surely?The evidence was all there - there was a cyclist in front of him - whether the cyclist was upright or on the ground is irrelevant. Mark Tyler drove over him. Neither of those facts were in dispute. That is not the action of a competent and careful driver, and it should be beyond question that a person being in front of the vehicle is something which the driver should be expected to be aware of, which means the test in s3ZA of the Road Traffic Act is satisfied, and the accused is guilty.
The evidence also meets the test in s2A (Meaning of dangerous driving) so there is no excuse whatsoever for clearing him of even the lesser offence of careless driving. With driving like that, it is clear, beyond reasonable doubt, that he should not be in possession of a driving license, and the magistrates failed in their duty to relieve him of it.As long as dangerous criminals like Phil King are allowed on the bench, the roads will never be safe for anyone.
As a footnote, from the report is appears that this dangerous character commutes from Whitchurch, Hampshire to Clifton Way, Cambridge. What length does that make his effective working day?
It's about 120 miles each way, so at least 4 hours driving (considerably more if in the "rush hour") on top of a full workday. It's utterly moronic to make a commute like that - when I worked anywhere near that far away, I commuted weekly. But this happened on a Wednesday. -
Sign at end of Ferry Lane
Noticed this a couple of weeks ago. As you will see the sign is incomplete and misleading given that the place to see all the details is the end of Ferry Lane waiting to join High Street. High Street at this point is both Route 51 and Route 11.
Major points:
Left turn to go to Impington on Route 51 - I think not.
Abbey and Fen Ditton to the left when you could just go back across Green Dragon bridge.
No directions to Histon, Milton, Waterbeach probably others.Also the lack of any idea where route 11 goes to the right.
This appears to be one of a number of new signs that have recently appeared. If anyone has seen any more let's get the info out there and try to get them fixed.
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Disgraceful unloading practices by Tesco, East Road, Cambridge
Ever since Tesco opened their new shop on East Road, there has been poor unloading practice.
The company is unloading always from the front of the store with a large lorry which:
- Is stopped in the (advisory) cycle lane.
- The tail of the lorry is opened into the carriageway without a banksman, with the corner of it at the same height as a cyclist having to merge round the lorry - there is real potential for a head injury because of the relative invisibility of this
- Causing traffic to be reduced to one effective lane (or two, just squeezing through, if no large vehicles), causing delays for a half an hour period.They have stopped using the zig-zag lines.
This photo shows the danger that is created:
http://www.cyclestreets.net/location/68145/ -
East Road-safe cycle route needed to ARU and Petersfield
I am bringing up the problem that cyclists and pedestrians have crossing East Road to get to ARU and the neighbouring residential area. It would be helpful have a discussion about how to create safe routes in this area and how to get them implemented.
When I am cycling, I find it dangerous and difficult to cross East Road from Petersfield or Bradmore Street and I resort to using the pedestrian crossings with my bike because it is.
This area that really needs addressing for improvements to safe cycling and I don’t understand why given the expansion of ARU this has not been addressed.The junction of Mill Road/East Road is also pretty scary for cyclists and pedestrians. The crossing at the slip road at the corner of Petersfield is difficult for pedestrians because it has no traffic controls and cars come quickly round this corner making it dangerous for anyone who is not alert , who is not tall enough to see, or who can't move quickly. This includes the young, the old, someone in a wheelchair. I wouldn't fancy pushing a child in a buggy across either.
Basically, it seems to me that the Junction and East road are designed for motor vehicles and traffic flow not for pedestrians and cyclists. Can we try and address this? -
Cycle crossing on Barton Road roundabout
I am writing to point your attention to a "danger spot" on the Barton Road cycle route.
I and many others cycle this route every day and really appreciate how safe it is. However, there have been a number of near accidents at the sliproad from the M11 southbound onto the Barton roundabout. The problem is that the cycle path means that all cyclists must cross the road leading onto the roundabout. This is fine when the traffic is not busy. However, during rush hour the left lane going onto the roundabout is always queued up. This means that, to cross the the road, a cyclist needs to wait for a car to let them out. However, the problem lies with the right lane going onto the roundabout. If there is a queue in the left lane, you are unable to see into the right lane and so quite a few cyclists are nearly knocked off at this point
The problem is that:
a. The right lane is too short and so cyclists are unable to get out of the way in time if a car does not does turn onto it. It seems to me that there shouldn't be a right lane as it's too short to be of any use and poses more of a danger to cyclists.
b. Cars tends to (understandably) be going quite fast as they've just come off the M11 and also are usually looking onto the roundabout rather than the road in front of them. This has meant that I've seen lots of cars having to break very heavily having only seen a bike crossing in front of them at the very last minute.
I, and the other cyclists that routinely use this otherwise very safe route, would hugely appreciate it if this problem could be looked at.
[RL; sent by post, 27th June 2015]
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Eastern Gate
The Eastern Gate proposals are a strategic attempt by the City Council to rework the Newmarket Road roundabout area towards a standard crossing, and create a welcoming entrance into this very run-down looking part of the city.
It is supposed to be being paid for by Section 106 moneys from developments, yet proposal after proposal is coming forward but nothing is happening.
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Fulbourn/Cherry Hinton Eastern Access - City Deal scheme
Fulbourn/Cherry Hinton Eastern Access is one of the five City Deal 'cross-city improvements' schemes.
"The growth of housing and employment sites in the Cherry Hinton and Fulbourn Road area, such as the expansion of the ARM headquarters will put further pressure on local roads. Improving the cycleways on Fulbourn Road would enhance cycle access to the city centre and contribute to the completion of the cycleway network in this part of south-east Cambridge."
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Mill Road Congestion
The Mill Road traders are planning a meeting (2016) to discuss congestion on Mill Road and have asked us to send a representative. What ideas do we have to for Mill Road?
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Right turn from St Andrew's St into Downing Street
This intersection needs a right turn light for bikes turning from St Andrew's Street into the Downing Street contraflow lane.
Doing so feels unsafe with buses coming up from behind, and little opportunity to get across the intersection.
I'm considering setting up a 38 Degrees petition on the matter, but wanted to see if this issue had been campaigned on before.
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Poor lane marking eastbound at Park and Ride on Madingley Road
The new road layout here means that eastbound cyclists travelling straight-on find themselves in the left-turn lane, stopped by a Red light, and blocking traffic turning left into the Park and Ride who have a Green left turn filter.
The road markings seem to expect cyclists in this lane to go straight ahead, even though it's the left turn lane, because it is guided into the onward eastbound cycle lane. Just feels wrong and leaves cyclists vulnerable to the left turning traffic.
There should be a 'redmac' cycle lane between the left turn lane and the right hand lane. The road markings should guide cyclists from this lane into the eastbound cycle lane instead of from the left turn lane.
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16/0673/FUL Cambridge Union Society redevelopment
Demolition of ancillary buildings and removal of 1930's facade at the grade II listed Cambridge Union Society. Construction of replacement facade, reinstatement and refurbishment of historic features and internal and external access and refurbishment works including enlargement of existing cafe (use class A3) and re-opening of 'footlight's' entertainment space (sui generis). Demolition of squash courts and un-listed 3-5 Round Church Street in the conservation area. Construction of new link building for access and ancillary uses for the Union Society. Construction of adjacent new building with ground floor restaurant (use class A3) with 41 room post-graduate student accommodation above (use class C2) together with basement storage and services.
Cambridge Union Society 9A Bridge Street Cambridge Cambridgeshire CB2 1UB
Application reference : 16/0673/FUL
Also a Listing Building Consent application: 16/0674/LBC Demolition of ancillary buildings and removal of 1930's facade at the grade II listed Cambridge Union Society
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Coldham's Lane residential development
Plans are emerging for development on the Coldham's Lane site with implications for the surrounding area including links with Cherry Hinton.
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Make use of flashing front lights illegal again
Some people are especially sensitive to lights, including flashing lights, and lights which point directly into their eyes. Both these two situations can result in migraines for the unfortunate observer.I am glad to read that German law mandates downward-focussed lights. We should do the same.
Flashing lights used to be illegal (i.e. when incandescant lights were the norm) but the law was changed to specifically allow them. However, for the reason above, and also because judging the speed (and to some extent the position) of a bicycle is impossible when the light is flashing could actually make flashing lights less safe. Batteries have improved and LEDs are more efficient, and the battery life even on 'steady' mode is way more than in the 'days of yore' hat some of us knew.
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Cambridge Science Park Cycling and Walking
Cycling and Walking provision at Cambridge Science Park is poor. Lets try and get it fixed
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The need for segregated route to Cambridge Train Station
If it is not bad enough in a cycle city that the Great Northern Road, the new road to Cambridge's main train station and cycle parking, does not have a segregated and safe cycle paths, the new development is now being proposed which will prevent a segregated cycleway from access to the Station a Devonshire road.
Does anyone agree that there should be a segregated cycle access to the country's largest cycle park?
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U&C Outline planning Application
Objections to U&Cs outline planning application need to be submitted by 10 April. There seem to be some interesting ideas for improving cycling infrastructure but a lot that could be improved upon.
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Coldham's Lane / Cromwell Road junction
This junction is currently very poor. Cyclists end up doing awkward manoeuvres and visibility is not good.
It is possible this could be improved as part of the Chisholm Trail.
How could this junction be redesigned to make it best practice?
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inaccurate "no through road" signs, missing "except cycles/pedestrians"
I've noticed a few of these around Cambridge where there's a "no through road" sign but it's a through road for cyclists and pedestrians. As there's a post already, if the council had a ready-made stock of plates saying "except cycles", "except pedestrians", a single operative could affix the plate below the sign to made it correct. It is highly deceptive and not serving those using non-motorised transport if they go the long way round not realising they can get through a quicker route.
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Rumble strips instead of paint
Complete separation of cyclists and cars can't always be achieved. To make sharing of the road safer I would like to propose using rumble strips instead of flat paint to separate the bike lane from the rest of the road. It would act as a physical reminder for car-drivers that they are encroaching the bike lane. This happens particularly near pinch points like road bends or crossroads. So even just a selective application of rumble strips could have a very positive effect, I believe. What's the view of the cycling community? Has it been tested?
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Fixing none optimal lanes
I cycle past this junction a lot, and sometimes the lights are red so I wait and look at the lanes and wonder why they're like this.
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Short Stay cycle parking
I work near the station and the area out the front of the new building has short term cycle spaces for the shops there. These spaces are specifically for the retail units (ratios of this is in the planning application I understand). so the racks have to be installed and wont be policed by the retail units (such as the ones by Microsoft which are for employees) yet they fill with commuters who should be using the cycle park.
I have been thinking that Cambridge CC needs to agree a system (bye law?) to create short term racks. The colour should be different and signage provided but for racks that need controlling like this it is essential to stop antisocial cyclists piling up bikes.
Of course its difficult to police, and a heavy handed approach should be avoided but I see a growing issue across the city where racks for specific short term purposes are created but then filled with long term cyclists who should accept if they are parked all day that the extra 2 minutes walk for them to a proper cycle park is reasonable to expect. Otherwise this puts people off cycling the short distances as they fear they wont get a rack or will spend a lot of time scrambling for a spot.
Cyclists could be stickered and if caught again then fined. Or clamped to the rack with a fee to unlock (yes I know that sounds like it defeats the object but it should work after a while).
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Rate my route - software / app ideas anyone?
For a long time I have wondered about a crowd-sourced cycleability map.
In this, people cycle along a link (accepting the first question of how to define the beginning and end of this) then give it a thumbs up or down. After enough people do this, then others can see how popular it is.
Some people wonder about subjectivity but I think this should be less of a problem with more voters.The reason I am asking is because this method could apply to a potential commercial project for a Council which wants to drive around 100km of rural roads and use a panel of 4 experts to grade meaningful segments on a 1 to 7 scale according to their suitability for HGV movements.
Any views on whether this is already done within an app I am not aware of, or could be it done by anyone as an add-on to something else, or is it something CamCycle could offer as a commercial package (there may well be more than one local authority looking for this sort of thing)
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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.