Water Street access to Haling Way
A proposal has been floating around for a while for a change to this area. The opportunity needs to be taken to avoid the right-angle turn and remove pavement cycling entirely between the parking and the river.
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:
Martin Lucas-Smith // 1 thread
A proposal has been floating around for a while for a change to this area. The opportunity needs to be taken to avoid the right-angle turn and remove pavement cycling entirely between the parking and the river.
Created by Roxanne (CEO) // 1 thread
Mixed used development comprising a Day Nursery at ground floor and 40 self-contained 1xbed student rooms at the rear and on the upper floors along with a vehicle drop-off zone, cycle parking and associated landscaping.
Romsey Labour Club Mill Road Cambridge Cambridgeshire CB1 3NL
Cambridge
Application reference : 16/0821/FUL
Martin Lucas-Smith // 1 thread
Formation of new cycle park on Queens' College land directly in front of the Fisher Building on Silver Street.
Queens College Silver Street Cambridge CB3 9ET
Cambridge
Application reference : 16/0804/FUL
Created by Henry Gomersall // 1 thread
This is a pretty far reaching discussion point, but one I feel is important in establishing cycling as a first class means of transport.
I apologise if this is something for which a consensus is well established, but I was unable to find anything specific on it. Or indeed, or if there is little that can be done!
The issue is that though Cambridge has loads of pavement cycle lanes, they tend to be of the kind that stop at each and every adjoining road. This is suboptimal and really slows down one's progress.
In some cases there are "helpful" give-way markings to remind the cyclist that cars go first. Slightly better are give way markings to both the adjoining road and the cycle lanes, but my experience has been that the road give way marking is often simply ignored (and it takes a brave cyclist to not slow down despite knowing they'd arrive first). Also, cars turning into the minor road from the more major road are not clearly required to give way to cyclists.
The new slightly raised cycle lanes with bus islands are clearly much better in this regard and seem to be treated by drivers with the same priority as the road they are part of. So on the whole the new infrastructure seems to be dealing with the problem properly.
However, slightly against this trend, I noticed that the wonderful cycle lane by the guided bus route by the new Great Kneighton centre (marked on the map) has a dropped kerb to the not-yet-commissioned road and little in the way to indicate it's not going to be sliced in half when the road is opened properly.
Another trend seems to be to coerce cyclists to use pedestrian/cycle crossings at junctions, e.g. where the guided bus route ends at Francis Crick Avenue and the cycle lane continues onto the Addenbrookes site.
This is part of a bigger question about how much cyclists should be considered with the same priority as motorists (consider how long it takes the cycle road crossings on Fen Causeway to change, despite all the traffic moving at a snails pace).
What if anything can we do about this? What I really want is at a minimum for cyclists to be given _equal_ priority to the drivers.
Created by David Green // 1 thread
This morning I noticed that two new concrete bollards have been installed at the North end of the Carter Cycle Bridge. These seem to be completely unnecessary and the position will probably cause accidents to cyclists descending into Devonshire Road.
Were the Campaign aware of this and can we do anything to get them removed?
Created by Roxanne (CEO) // 1 thread
Demolition of existing bungalow and erection of a three storey building consisting of 14 studio flats and associated ancillary works including a laundry room, bin store and bicycle store.
138 Brooks Road Cambridge Cambridgeshire CB1 3HR
Cambridge
Application reference : 16/0731/FUL
Created by Anna Langley // 1 thread
This morning 17.5.2016, I found this car blocking the towpath entrance on Fen Road. If you see this again, please call the Police non-emergency number 101 and report it. Especially if it is this same red Citroën MV62 JXD.
Created by Heather Coleman // 1 thread
Erection of 14 flats and associated bin and cycle stores following demolition of existing dwelling.
Hayling House Fen Road Cambridge Cambridgeshire CB4 1UN
Cambridge
Application reference : 16/0617/FUL
Martin Lucas-Smith // 1 thread
Refurbishment of ground floor restaurant currently known as 'Bella Italia'. Removal of some internal partition walls and archways. Existing wc area remodelled with new fittings. New disabled access wc installed. New lighting, flooring and decoration. Replacement of bar and fittings. Repair / refurbishment of waterwheel. New external signage. External woodwork repair and redecoration.
Newnham Mill Newnham Road Cambridge Cambridgeshire CB3 9EY
Cambridge
Application reference : 16/0726/LBC
Martin Lucas-Smith // 2 threads
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
Created by Roxanne (CEO) // 1 thread
16/0594/FUL | Erection of restaurant and landscaping including outdoor seating area and children's play area, together with relocation of cycle parking, revision to servicing bay and associated infrastructure. | Cambridge Leisure Park Clifton Way Cambridge Cambridgeshire
Created by Roxanne (CEO) // 1 thread
16/0641/FUL | Residential development comprising 8 x 3 bedroom houses, 5 x 1 bedroom apartments and 1 x 2 bedroom apartment, formation of access including demolition of no. 74 Perne Road, landscaping, open space, drainage and supporting infrastructure. | 68 - 80 Perne Road Cambridge Cambridgeshire CB1 3RR
Created by Heron // 2 threads
I am mostly a walking pedestrian in our fair city of Cambridge.
There are not many areas where I can walk without being mown down by unexpected cyclists.
Please, please alert yr members that Petty Cury is a no riding a bike area. There are other areas within Cambridge, Christs Pieces areas - Fitzroy and Burleigh Street.
These areas are thronged with slow moving pedestrians often with children running about
This bend where Hobson Street and St Andrew's Street meet, is quite a blind one. Buses and taxis go around it at speed, unaware of bikes coming the other way in the contraflow, and frequently take a line which could knock a cyclist off their bike. Likewise bike riders can't see what's coming.
It needs something like a couple of trixi mirrors so that drivers and riders alike can see around the corner and know what's coming.
Such a solution should be simple and cheap, and as far as I know, not need too much bureaucracy.
Created by Anna Langley // 1 thread
A dropped kerb was created here to make it easier for cyclists (in particular) to get onto and off the towpath. Since then, and even more so since the demolition of the Penny Ferry pub, cars and vans have been using the space as a car park. Vehicles are parked there daily, and I have been photographing them as I go past. I have included a link so you can see what I mean.
I've contacted my county and city councillors, and the council itself. And the response has been silence.
Suggestions please...
Martin Lucas-Smith // 1 thread
Cambridge University is proposing to introduce charging for car parking.
This is potentially an opportunity to see improvements in cycle parking at the same time.
"The Project Board recognises that this is a topic of considerable interest to the University and its staff, particularly the set of principles the HR Committee has recommended consulting on - namely that:
- Car park charging should be introduced,
- Charging should be salary-contingent and that salary sacrifice should apply if possible,
- Management of permit allocation should be centralised,
- There should be a maximum permit allocation per site,
- Revenues generated should be ringfenced to support alternative modes of travel such as buses, trains and cycling."
Created by Heather Coleman // 1 thread
Yet again, Balfour Beatty are doing an utterly shocking job on the street light replacements. I thought there was a thread about this somewhere but I can't find it thus can't find if we've got any contacts to directly complain to.
Basically, there's a large hole in the pavement around where I've put the pointer - not sure that's 100% accurate since I was occupied with other things. So the cycle lane is closed to allow pedestrians somewhere to walk.
That has been fine this week as it's the school holidays and there is virtually no traffic to speak of. Come Monday, when Hills Road is nose-to-tail gridlock, cyclists will be double and pedestrians probably doubled, it's going to be dangerous chaos. The pedestrian route will not actually be wide enough for all the pedestrians that walk along there on a school day - they will be queuing to get through, let alone the effect of all the 'stuck' cyclists who can't get into the car lane as that's queuing all the way to Cherry Hinton Road.
What is particularly annoying is that this hole has been there all week with no change.
Basically yet again, they've just dug holes, stuck up obstructions and gone off leaving them. How about digging the hole, doing the work, and filling in the hole in a timely manner. This whole now four-year operation has been a shambles from beginning to end.
Does anyone have any suggestions for direct phone numbers or email addresses so I can complain?
Created by Jon Jennings // 3 threads
Public transport is limited as it does not give a door to door service making it impracticable for many people, and also it's slow on congested roads. Cycling does give that flexibility of allowing people to travel as and where they want quickly, however is no good for most people who need to travel more than 5 miles. Sitting in my car on the way to work, in a traffic jam, watching all the cranes and building work going on in Cambridge bringing more people into the area, I was wondering how to solve this conundrum.
So I hit upon the idea of having Cycle Portals, or simply put combining public transport with cycles. For example by running a roll on roll off Bus between Is Ives and Cambridge, commuters could cycle the first part of their journey from home to the "Cycle Portal" and cycle onto a open plan bus ( i.e. a modified bendy bus with big doors and no seats ). The bus would wiz along the busway to the "Exit Portal" in Cambridge where they could disembark and continue their journeys to wherever.
The more I think about it the more I think this has great potential at creating a real alternative to the car. With Cycle Portals to places like Addenbrookes, Sawston, new housing developments outside of Cambridge and so on cycling could provide a quick door to door transport solution. Your views?
Created by Roxanne (CEO) // 2 threads
The City Council is launching a consultation on community facilities. This may be a good opportunity to review the cycle parking arrangements at these locations and ask for improvements where required.
Created by Heather Coleman // 1 thread
Starting an issue for any threads to do with events on Midsummer Common which may effect the large number of commuter routes on the common
Hi all again!... i would like to find out how many calories i am burning... anyone know of a reliable calorie counter?...
I recently did a cycle of 13 miles, in 70 mins (ave 12.2 mph).. how do i work out my cals? one of my wifes reckoner says 745 cals, my bike computer says 260 cals "my fitness pal" (calorie counter app) says 725 cals. I was just wondering?
Any help would be appreciated!
Skippy
Created by Skippy62 // 1 thread
Hello All! I have only been a member for a few days, but have a question:
Does anyone else get an inordinate number of punctures on the Cycle path on the Bus-way between St Ives & Histon? I have had 4 punctures in 6 trips!!!! Bike is new, (Raleigh Pioneer) has Schwalbe Silento puncture-resistant tyres, Pumped up hard! Size 700c x 35.
I don't ride over brambles/barbed-wire/broken bottles (lol). When i mentioned this to a local bike shop, i was told by the shop assistant, that punctures on the Bus-way are common, & he would never use it!!!!. I'm in my '50s, & am trying to lose a bit of middle-aged spread!, & absolutely love cycling along the Bus-way, peaceful, tranquil,looking at the scenery etc, & it's not too huge a journey to cause cardiac arrest!!!I live in Willingham, & if i stick to roads, i don't get punctures, but i don't get the same pleasure as on the (peaceful) Cycle-way.
Sorry to have waffled on... i put it down to my age!!!
Any thoughts?...Anyone?.. or have i just been very unlucky?
Thanks for your time :)
Simon
Created by Hester Wells // 8 threads
An Issue for report and discussion of busway collisions, incursions onto the busway, or obstructions on the busway
Created by Ben Brierton // 1 thread
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.
Created by Ben Brierton // 1 thread
The new road layout on the westbound approach to M11 turning on Madingley Road has poor provision for cyclists.
Cyclists going westbound now have to take the second lane for a few hundred metres with traffic passing at speed on both sides. Traffic passing in the left lane will be taking the slip road onto the M11 and traffic in the second lane will be going straight on.
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Martin Lucas-Smith // 29 threads
Proposed route along the rail corridor through Cambridge, part of which is in the Cambridge Local Plan.
Created by Rohan Wilson // 1 thread
I've visited Riverside to Waterbeach with William Rayner of county cycling team. He's revising signage here and providing it along the St Ives corridor, with the old NCN 51 being renamed Regional Route 24 (blue patch). We've decided finally to continue to sign NCN 11 from Riverside Bridge to Waterbeach Station, and he's looking at suitable (hopefully temporary) wording to advise to follow NCN 51 to Bottisham for destinations beyond Waterbeach, which will hopefully eliminate misrouting those from outside the area.
Our inspection of existing signs showed that only one new signboard was provided on completion 5 years ago of Riverside Bridge. Signboards still send people via Green Dragon. Sustrans considers signage is an important part of any route project.
The intention is to sign Milton Country Park as a destination, not as part of the route, removing route signs within the park, and probably retaining Coles Road as the signed route through the village, though it would be much preferable to have improvements past the shops and the village green, pubs etc.
Retaining the route to Waterbeach as NCN will help keep the gap in people's awareness.
I am planning to contact again the landowner of the missing link between Bottisham Lock and Fen Road, Lode with a suggestion for a low-level route, southeast side of the Bottisham Lode floodbank which is the route of the public footpath, where signs forbid cycling. It might be considered more visually acceptable. All parish councils are for the route, including the one of which he is a member.
Created by David MacKay FRS // 1 thread
Our campaign for safer walking and cycling to/from NWCambridge now has a petition and a first video (of five) summarising our position.
See our new video summarising our petition:
https://youtu.be/hIlQAzsU0js?t=1s
I’d be delighted if you could promote this to your networks. Time is of the essence because a Senate House discussion is coming up [3 Nov 2015], and I will report the number of signatures on our petition there. (But signatures after the date will still be useful.)
More information:
http://tinyurl.com/EddingtonSafety
The petition:
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/EddingtonSafety
Anyone is welcome to sign the petition; we ask people to use the Comment field to let us know if they are University Member / University employee / City resident / SouthCambs resident / etc.
For twitter purposes the recommended hashtag is #EddingtonSafety and there is an @EddingtonSafety account too.
Thanks very much
David
David J C MacKay FRS
djcm1@cam.ac.uk
Regius Professor of Engineering,
Cambridge University Engineering Department
Author of “Sustainable Energy - without the hot air” www.withouthotair.com
and “Information Theory, Inference, and Learning Algorithms” www.inference.eng.cam.ac.uk/mackay/
Girton resident and parent.
Cambridge Cycling Campaign Member
Created by David Green // 1 thread
My employer is planning to relocate from central cambridge to the Cambridge Business Park (near Waterbeach). There is currently no decent cycle (or footpath!) access to this business park which avoids riding along the A10. I am a confident cyclist but I am not looking forward to riding to work along sections of the A10.
Are there any plans for cycle route construction which the campaign can, perhaps, help accelerate?
Created by Hester Wells // 1 thread
There is a campaign for a cycle route between Bar Hill and Cambridge, also connecting Dry Drayton, Madingley and Coton to North-West Cambridge.
Currently cycle provision for these villages is poor. Bar Hill has lower rates of cycling than other villages that are closer to Cambridge.
The campaign site is: http://www.bhddmadcycle.com/
Created by Simon Nuttall // 19 threads
The Reach Fair ride takes place on the early Bank Holiday Monday (May Day) in May.
The web page for it is:
http://www.camcycle.org.uk/events/rides/
The planning overview is summarised:
http://www.camcycle.org.uk/events/rides/timeline.html
I've created this issue to help plan this event.
Martin Lucas-Smith // 1 thread
The permeability gate between Hooper Street and Kingston Street is obstructive as it only allows passage in one direction at a time.
Given the ever-increasing amount of cycling in areas like this, it's time to get this replaced with a simple bollard arrangement that would allow two-way passage whilst still enable the emergency services to unlock for access in an emergency.
As the bridleway crosses Milton Road, it swaps sides of the busway, so most pedestrians and cyclists want to cross diagonally. However the toucan crossing only protects people crossing Milton Road. It doesn't stop busway traffic.
This is confusing and dangerous. When the road traffic stops at red lights, and the Toucan crossing turns green, it feels very safe to cross the busway. Yet buses can come from three directions (busway west, busway east, Milton Road south) at speeds of 30 mph.
Cyclists in particular are tempted to cross diagonally from north west to south east. Last week I saw a near accident.
Created by Robin Heydon // 9 threads
The A14 is a very hostile, dangerous road for cycling.
Improvements to it, as well as broader changes to the national framework for cyclist crossings of major roads, are needed.
Created by Cllr Ian Manning // 1 thread
The County appointed an officer back in June to review parking policy across the County, starting with the City.
Vehicles are continually abusing cyclists who use the road here because the bus lane on the other side forces the carriageway to be narrow.
Although there is the cycleway, it has the usual problems of loss of priority at sideroads, bins in the way, people going in and out of driveways, etc.
Martin Lucas-Smith // 10 threads
Milton Road, like other main roads in the city, is a mix of typically bad bits of cycle infrastructure. There is considerable scope, possibly within the City Deal funding, to rework the whole streetscape to Dutch standards.
Created by Robin Heydon // 1 thread
The Cottenham to Histon cycleway needs improvement.
Created by Anne Clarke // 1 thread
The current Barton to Cambridge off road cycle path starts at the White Horse in Barton. During term time Cambridge bound traffic is now backed up and slow moving throughout Barton along the A603. This leaves no clear safe route for cyclists. The road has white hatchings down the middle and would be wide enough for a proper on-road cycle lane to leave a safe passage past the queuing vehicles.
Martin Lucas-Smith // 1 thread
There's a very poor dogleg right-angle with barriers at the entrance/exit from the West Cambridge site to Clerk Maxwell Road.
This should be turned into a wide splay with good visibility.
Created by Colin Bell // 1 thread
Has there been any improvement in the "new" NCN 11 route from Waterbeach to Lode since last summer? Last time I went that way I had to wheel the bike across fields and carry it over two or three stiles.
Any information, including a forecast date when a proper route is likely to be built, welcome. Thanks.
Starting a thread about this application here so we can continue on from the previous planning list discussion.
Martin Lucas-Smith // 11 threads
Major planning application here - c. 10,000 homes
Created by Simon Nuttall // 3 threads
The railway line from Cambridge to Newmarket turns out across Coldham's Common and right through the middle of Cherry Hinton, and then carries on passing to the north of Fulbourn.
There are currently (2013) two main routes from the east of Cambridge to Cherry Hinton - the Tins and Snakey Path. However both have long very narrow sections involving pedestrian conflict.
The railway line is single track - but satellite images show the bridges crossing Barnwell Road and Coldham's Lane were both built for dual track. So this means there should easily be enough room to accommodate a cycleway alongside the railway.
This route could then connect up with the Chisholm Trail and provide a direct fast cycle route to and from the city and the Science Park area.
Created by Robin Heydon // 2 threads
The Landbeach Parish Council would like the bridgeway from Landbeach to Cambridge to be upgraded to a cycleway.
Martin Lucas-Smith // 4 threads
London Cycling Campaign has reorientated its policy towards a 'Go Dutch' approach.
This aims to learn from best practice abroad rather than continuing with the 'hierarchy of provision' that, in 20 years in the UK, has arguably failed to deliver meaningful change.
This is an overarching issue for conceptual discussion of this issue.
Created by Jamie // 1 thread
At the moment it is possible to cycle from Cambridge Road, near Madingley, to Girton, on a bridleway that crosses over the A428 and then passes under the M11 at the Girton Interchange. You can then cross three roads (A1307) and reach a pavement on the North-East side of the Interchange. Using the pavement you can then reach Washpit Lane and cycle up towards Girton. (The pavement is marked as a shared-use route on the OSM Cycle map, although I am not sure that it really is.)
Apart from having to be careful when crossing the A1307 junction it is a rather pleasant route to ride.
The Girton Interchange is being "improved" to reduce the bottleneck for cars. Does anyone know what plans there are to ensure that the current route through remains open and whether there are plans to improve the bridleway route through? Or will this be another example of roads being developed to the detriment of footpaths/bridleways.
Martin Lucas-Smith // 1 thread
Cherry Hinton Road is currently mainly typical 'blue sign on a pavement' provision, despite having the edge-to-edge width in places for proper cycle provision. A longer-term objective should be to upgrade this.
Created by David Earl // 4 threads
There are some evil short grey posts on the busway cycleway that are really hard to see in the dark. I have heard of a number of people hitting them with disastrous consequences
Created by velocipedus@gmail.com // 12 threads
Project Orange is an attempt develop our general strategy during the year 2013.
It involves
1) Should Cambridge Go Dutch (or Copenhagenize)
2) A more assertive stance in our interactions with agencies: Demanding of them to make feasible what seems infeasible
3) focus on a regional area 10 miles (15 km) around Cambridge and a dartboard network structure to connect villages,
4) the development of a Bicycle Infrastructure Assessment Tool (BIAC) which will allow us to grade and praise provision
5) Priority over sideroads as part of a Dutch-style approach
5) Development of Visualisation Tools for major projects (Chisholm Trail, Newnham to Newmarket Rd, Mitcham's Corner)