Cycling advice
Collection of advice for people who cycle or are thinking about cycling.
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 Waterbeach Cycling Campaign:
Created by Roxanne (CEO) // 1 thread
Collection of advice for people who cycle or are thinking about cycling.
Created by Edward Taylor // 1 thread
Brief proposal for temporary measures in Milton.
Raised as a result of COVID-19 distancing measures
In addition to or in concert with suggestions arising from Spaces to Breathe
1. Use a point closure at the north side of Cambridge to forbid southbound through traffic. Why? It eliminates through traffic in Milton, especially at peak times. There are other versions of this idea for Milton, such as modal filters. Driving into Milton centre should be further discouraged in favour of the A10 bypass.
2. Implement a 20mph speed limit throughout Milton. Why? Reducing speed limits slows down drivers, a bit. It shifts the balance in favour of walking and cycling. The street environment becomes calmer, cleaner and quieter. In residential areas, there are more walkers and people just drive slower naturally. In these areas, cycling and walking becomes more pleasant and statistically safer. Fatality rate in collisions drops significantly.
3. Remove on-street car storage on Cambridge Road / High street. Why? On-street car storage encourages people to choose the car when making journeys within Milton. (I've done it myself.) Nowhere within Milton is more than a 3 minute cycle journey away.
4. Give cyclists and pedestrians priority at several key junctions on the Milton-Cambridge cycle route.(Winship road to Cambride Road) Why? To encourage people to use these routes and improve safety.
The DfT has made it clear that the money will only be allocated for measures that truly make space for cycling (please let me know if you want to see the letter, as it has not been widely shared). Those painted lanes do not meet the criteria set by the government, so they will have to be paid by Cambs Highways.
The deadline for councils to bid for the funds is Friday June 5th - in 6 days! If anybody has got any follow up suggestions I would suggest emailing our concillors well before that date, as any measures proposed will also have to be reviewed by Cambs Highways before they are sent off.
Created by Anna Williams – Head of Campaigns & Engagement // 0 threads
The Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP) has secured up to £400m of funding for the second stage of the City Deal.
Created by Roxanne (CEO) // 3 threads
What makes a good school street?
Where should we have school streets in Cambridge?
How can we campaign for school streets?
Created by Jim Chisholm // 1 thread
We need a front page link to sections about bike maintanace (links to YouTube videos) and tips for novice (or returning riders) Cycle Streets/ Bikeability etc (there were articles about maintence in old newsletters.
Created by Roxanne (CEO) // 1 thread
Constitution and Ethics Committee
Date/Time: 22 Apr 2020 - 14:00 to 16:00
Virtual Meeting
The County Council's Constitution and Ethics Committee is asked to recommend the changes to the County Council Constitution, as set out in the report, to full Council:
i) the abolition of the Economy and Environment and Highways and Infrastructure Committees;
ii) the introduction of the Environment and Sustainability and Highways and Transport Committees;
iii) revisions to the terms of reference of the General Purposes, Adults, Children and Young People, Commercial and Investment, Communities and Partnership and Health Committees;
iv) the abolition of the Cambridge Joint Area Committee by the end of July 2020 following the discussions set out in paragraph 3.3 of this report;
v) the withdrawal from the Joint Development Control Committee for Cambridge Fringes by the end of July 2020 following the discussions set out in paragraph 4.4 of this report; and
vi) increase the membership of General Purposes Committee from fifteen to seventeen.
Created by Roxanne (CEO) // 5 threads
Campaigning for cycling during the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic. What temporary changes should we campaign for? What longer-term changes should we be pushing for now?
Created by Roxanne (CEO) // 1 thread
The County Council would like to know our opinion on allowing motorcycles to use bus lanes.
Motorcycling has become increasingly popular as it is a cheaper alternative than travelling by car, it provides independence and mobility and reduces journey times and emissions on congested roads.
As part of the climate change strategy action plan, the County Council at its meeting on 19th December 2019, agreed to consult on the use of bus lanes for motorcycles and scooters, collectively referred to as powered-two-wheelers.
Over 30 UK towns and cities permit motorcycles in bus lanes since the original trials in London back in 2009 and 2011 demonstrated reduced journey times and environmental benefits with no significant safety issues for motorcyclists or other vulnerable road users.
We would therefore welcome your views on whether you support the use of bus lanes by powered-two-wheelers, these together with any additional comments should be sent in writing to the undersigned or by email to policyandregulation@cambridgeshire.gov.uk by 10th April 2020 quoting reference PTWBus.
The feedback we receive will help us understand the level of support for the scheme.
Created by Roxanne (CEO) // 3 threads
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?
Created by Roxanne (CEO) // 1 thread
Hybrid application - (i) Full application for the erection of a mixed use building including a children's nursery (Class D1) and offices (Class B1); (ii) Outline application (Matters of access, landscaping, layout and scale to be considered) for approximately 7500 sqm of office (Class B1) and ancillary space; (iii) Asociated works, including hard standing and landscaping
Cambridge Innovation Park North, Stirling House, Denny End Road, Waterbeach, CB25 9PB
South Cambridgeshire
Application reference : S/2784/19/OL
sound+fury // 1 thread
A bill is being put forward to sentence any cyclist convicted of dangerous cycling to a 14 year prison term.
Demolition of 32no existing flats and garages, and erection of 75no new affordable dwellings, including 4no houses and 71no apartments, a new community facility, car parking, landscaping and associated works.
67 - 97A Campkin Road Cambridge Cambridgeshire CB4 2NP
Cambridge
Application reference : 19/1616/FUL
There's a whole bunch of locations reported for this Cambridge Cow sculpture exhibit.
I've already spotted one that gets too close to a dropped kerb in Station Square. More eyes needed to look through all the proposed locations.
Created by Chris Howell // 1 thread
This is a suggestion to create a Dutch style cycle map for the area around Cambridge and get the waypoints and routes marked on the ground to help navigation by bike, and then use it to measure progress on creating better routes.
Created by Anna Williams – Head of Campaigns & Engagement // 1 thread
As part of the City Council's plan to build 500 new homes in Cambridge by 2022, Cambridge Investment Partnership (CIP) is proposing to build around 78 new council-rented homes and a new community facility on Campkin Road.
EIA screening opinion for up to 4,801 sqm of operational police accommodation and ancillary functions
Land at Milton
South Cambridgeshire
Application reference : S/3011/19/E1
Created by Roxanne (CEO) // 37 threads
We're moving forward on our policy project. This thread is to discuss the various policies and move them towards publication.
Tom McKeown // 3 threads
Events to promote cycling within Histon and Impington. Raise awareness for groups other activities.
Created by Richard Moss // 1 thread
For discussing swept path analysis matters
Created by Anna Williams – Head of Campaigns & Engagement // 1 thread
Group looking at issues for active travel in the Chesterton area.
Created by Cllr Ian Manning // 8 threads
I've recently moved to be the Lib Dem lead on the County Council's Highways & Infrastructure committee.
I want to start working through in detail bad and good TM examples with officers to understand whether it's specific sets of contractors that are poor, whether they aren't compliant with the current policy and/or whether I agree with our officers about whether they are.
For this I need a Cambridgeshire wide list of both good and bad, with locations - so it would be good to get some from Cambridge and other nearby Cycle Campaigns.
Tom McKeown // 1 thread
New South Cambridgeshire Police station proposed for land adjacent to Milton Park & Ride.
Created by Robin Heydon // 2 threads
GCP should be applying for the second Tranche. This was discussed at the May monthly meeting where we created a list of possible schemes. This issue is designed to both create additional items for this list, and also expand on the needs of each of these items.
Unit 330 is a circa 30,000 sq. ft over 2, 330 , Cambridge Science Park, Milton, CB4 0WN
First Floor front extension. Window and external door renewal. External repairs to existing area of hard and soft landscaping. Reduction of car parking spaces and provision of new bin store and cycle shelter.
http://plan.scambs.gov.uk/swiftlg/apas/run/WPHAPPDETAIL.DisplayUrl?theApnID=S/0874/19/FL&theTabNo=3
(location is approximate)
Outline application for planning permission with all matters other than access reserved, for the development of up to 50 residential dwellings and a Community Park to provide recreation and leisure facilities, including a community building, and associated works.
http://plan.scambs.gov.uk/swiftlg/apas/run/WPHAPPDETAIL.DisplayUrl?theApnID=S/1312/19/OL
This map shows all issues, whether points, routes, or areas:
The most popular issues, based on the number of votes:
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.
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 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 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.
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.
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.
Created by Robin Heydon // 2 threads
The Landbeach Parish Council would like the bridgeway from Landbeach to Cambridge to be upgraded to a cycleway.
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)
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 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.
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 Cllr Ian Manning // 1 thread
The County appointed an officer back in June to review parking policy across the County, starting with the City.
Created by Roxanne (CEO) // 1 thread
A Camcycle member is looking at starting a local campaign group with the aim of getting a cycleway to connect the villages of Horningsea and Waterbeach along the B1047.
Please share your ideas and advice for the route here.
Over the past couple of years of regularly cycling between Waterbeach and Cambridge on NCN11 I have noticed that the path between Waterbeach and Baits Bite Lock is in really bad repair and is getting gradually worse. I have been in touch with the council to ask them to repair it, and they told me that as far as they are concerned the path is only a footpath, and they have no obligation to maintain it to a standard suitable for bikes. Sustrans tells me they have no responsibility for maintaining that section of the route, and that the council should be responsible for it.
It seems absurd to allow the path to fall into total disrepair, but at the moment it doesn't seem like anyone recognises any obligation for its upkeep.
I am happy to go out occasionally with some secateurs and chop off the more annoying bits of greenery, but the path needs resurfacing and that feels a bit beyond me!
Does anyone have any experience with this sort of problem? Have they come across it on other sections of the NCN?
Created by Matthew // 2 threads
On 1 January 2026, historic routes in England that aren’t properly recorded will be lost to the public forever. We are looking for people to volunteer their time to help us identify and register these routes before it is too late.
Created by Phil Lee // 0 threads
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.
Created by cobweb // 1 thread
http://www.dft.gov.uk/news/press-releases/dft-press-20121109a
A DfT consultation to see whether speed limits on single carriageways should be introduced for HGV's. This will clearly have implications for cycle safety.
Created by Roxanne (CEO) // 3 threads
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?
What general measures (publicity, fairs, web activity, leaflets, brochures, campaign manifestos) can we undertake to promote cycling in Cambridge in the most general sense?
This issue is a discussion area for proposals and discussion on creating general-purpose material and the approach that can be taken to promote cycling, and the difficult question of how this is balanced against difficulties that cyclists face in practice.
This issue is not for discussion of specific problematic infrastructure or helmet issues, or anything like that.
Created by Al Storer // 2 threads
Cycling and Walking provision at Cambridge Science Park is poor. Lets try and get it fixed
Created by Anna Williams – Head of Campaigns & Engagement // 2 threads
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.
Created by Paul Bearpark // 1 thread
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.
Created by Heather Coleman // 1 thread
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.
Created by velocipedus@gmail.com // 6 threads
How can we support the growth of local initiatives ?
How can we overcome the division urban and rural cycling?
Would it be useful to establish a network of regional groups?
Could such a network become an interesting partner for the county planners?
Would politicians be able to hear us better if we speak from a position of regional awareness, a a group of groups?
Would it help the elected to understand that things are changing on our roads?
Could such a network support constituent groups, facilitate exchange between these groups, become a more important player in the national context?
Could such a network attract its own funding?
What would be a good name for such a grouping (NAMES ARE IMPORTANT)
We have CTC, Ely, A10 Corridor, Martin T thinking about something in Bury St Edmunds, "Routes around Chatteris", Wisbech forum (set up by the County), - anything else ?