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 Waterbeach Cycling Campaign:
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Waterbeach Greenway
Waterbeach Greenway will be one of the first to undergo consultation.
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New 'Greater Cambridge Planning Service' being set up
Not sure if this is the right place for this, but couldn't find anything sensible to tack it onto. I got a press release via the City Council email alerts, and, since we look at and comment upon planning applications, it is relevant to us. Not sure if it will make things better or worse. It may be helpful to have unified cycle parking standards for both South Cambs and the City for example, if that is the way things are going. Anyway, link and copied and pasted press release below. But could it make things less accountable? My impression is that we tend to get listened-to more by the City than by South Cambs, but that's only an impression. I guess it depends on what officers are appointed to the joint service, where it is based, etc etc.
https://www.cambridge.gov.uk/news/2017/06/21/new-greater-cambridge-planning-service-being-set-up
New 'Greater Cambridge Planning Service' being set up
News release from 21 June 2017, 3:26pm
A NEW integrated planning service for the Greater Cambridge area, transformed to provide an improved service for customers along with greater capacity and resilience, is set to move a step closer.
A business case for the new service, to be considered by councillors of both councils involved – Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council – early next month, sets out how the transition to a service covering the two council areas would be introduced over the next two years.
As set out in the business case, the proposed new Greater Cambridge planning service would offer clear benefits, including:
Capacity to meet the growing need for strategic planning and development across the area at a time of rapid growth here; with work on a single joint future plan for the two councils due to pick up pace when work on the current two joined-up Local Plans is close to a conclusion;
Providing a service of regional or national significance which would be more capable of attracting, developing and retaining a larger team of talented staff;
Offering an increased capacity and a more flexible approach to deliver a quality services for local residents and businesses and respond rapidly to the frequent changes to national planning policy.The shared service will also be looking to update computer systems to help local people have their say on applications and support council officers and councillors with good access to planning proposals by making use of new technology.
Work towards creating a new ‘Greater Cambridge Planning Service’ started in 2015. The two councils agreed then to work towards a new shared planning service that would deliver more capacity, support high quality development and provide better customer service at a time of increased development activity in the region.
Developments have included the appointment of Stephen Kelly as Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development and a project board to develop these proposals and wider joint initiatives by the two councils on planning and transport, working closely with the City Deal and in the future with the new countywide Combined Authority.
The plans councillors will now debate have been developed alongside managers in the planning teams to make sure they take on board the views of the people doing the job.
The first full phase of the transition to the new service would see a new senior management team appointed and staff transferred from Cambridge City Council to South Cambridgeshire District Council, who would be the employer authority. In total the two councils currently employ just over 150 planners, making it one of the bigger non-urban planning teams in the UK. The procurement of a new common ICT system would also start to be investigated
The second phase will consist of detailed work to design and implement the wider staff structure and assess the impact on other council services.
The new Greater Cambridge Planning Service is expected to be fully operational by early 2019. It would continue to have offices in Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire to provide a planning service to both areas.
Cllr Peter Topping, Leader of South Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “This new planning service is more than just a merger of the two existing teams. Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire are experiencing growth on an unprecedented scale outside of London. We owe it to our residents, as well as the businesses who want to create jobs here, and to the house builders - of all sizes - that we create a planning service that is resilient, protects what we value about our heritage and our environment, demands excellence in design, and keeps pace with the ambition for prosperity in this part of the country.
“Without this capability, we cannot expect developers or government to listen to us, and we are determined that we will be listened to, on planning matters, on behalf of our communities."
Cllr Lewis Herbert, Leader of Cambridge City Council, said: “We are determined that the proposed Greater Cambridge Planning Service will be one of the most effective planning teams in the country, providing a reliable, more straightforward service for customers and the wider community at a time of major growth in the area that is no respecter of council boundaries.
“The business case sets out how clear is the joint commitment and depth of agreement on key issues between the two councils and the route to reach our goal of a transformed planning service for the whole area, which builds on the great work the two councils have been doing together in recent years such as on our Local Plans and future planning strategy.”
The business case for the Greater Cambridge Planning Service is being discussed at Cambridge City Council’s Strategy and Resources Scrutiny Committee on 3 July and at South Cambridgeshire District Council’s Scrutiny and Overview Committee on 6 July and Cabinet on 13 July.
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Home Cycle Lockers
(I never quite understood the way this works, I just want to ask a question, there's no issue)
Does anyone have any experience of the various "Cycle Locker" type storage you can buy? I'm fed up with juggling cars and bikes, so I think it's time my bikes had a separate place to reside, and a secure locker or two would seem to fit the bill.
Something like these:
http://cycle-works.com/
I'm looking at commercial-strength stuff as I doubt anything less will be secure enough.I'm looking for anyone who's bought them or used them, or similar. Is there anything I need to know before I order?
thanks
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17/0927/FUL Pub & nine units 2 x 1xbed & 7 x studio. 80 Campkin Road, CB4 2QA
New building comprising of a Public House at ground floor with nine residential units on the upper floors (two 1xbed units & seven studio units) along with car and cycle parking and associated landscaping following the demolition of the existing buildings.
The Jenny Wren 80 Campkin Road Cambridge Cambridgeshire CB4 2QA
Cambridge
Application reference : 17/0927/FUL
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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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Cycle crossing signal timings
Issue derived from June 2017 monthly meeting: this issue tracks information related to the timing of traffic signals that control cycle crossings (e.g. Maids Causeway / Fair St, East Road / Norfolk St, Queens Rd / Burrell's Walk, Gonville Place / Gresham Rd, all along Guided Busway, appearing on various countryside routes, etc).
We would like to gather the following information:
a) how are the signals programmed currently (and when they change, what have they been changed to?)
b) who is responsible for the programming of the cycle as well as the placement of cycle detectors (if any)?
c) when needed, what levers can be pushed to get signals changed to give more priority to people walking and cycling? -
DfT Cycling and Walking technical support
The Department for Transport is offering technical support for the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan. Two questions.
Do we know whether any of our Local Authorities plan to submit a request?
Has any Local Authority consulted CamCycle about a request?They need to get a move on because the cut off for requests is 20 June.
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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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Cambridge Live lab: Stimulating ideas and actions
Cambridge Ahead and Grant Thornton are planning a Cambridge Live Lab to discuss key areas considered essential for future growth and prosperity including:
• Education and skills
• Housing and commercial space
• Infrastructure: connectivity and transportI thought cyclists might like to register their interest to attend and give their views.
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Failing to maintain NCN paths
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? -
Bollards briefing
There are quote a lot of bollards of different types on cycle routes in Cambridge. Many may be unnecessary, some could be improved, for example by being made more visible. This is a proposal to develop a position paper on the need for bollards on cycle routes and which types are most suitable.
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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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Horningsea to Waterbeach
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.
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Working with local businesses/employers
2017 will be the year that we launch our corporate sponsorship programme and also look at other projects through which we can collaborate with, influence and raise funds from local businesses. This is a catch-all issue for the various initiatives.
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Naming names in the Cambridge area
At the Camcycle AGM 2016, Robin suggested we should try to get cycleways named as a means of recognising them officially, getting them on emergency service databases etc. I'm creating this issue to take this forward.
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Street Cycle Parking
Motion for Camcycle AGM 2016: Street Cycle Parking
Providing secure places to park bicycles is a simple and effective way to encourage cycling by making people on bikes feel welcome. In some areas of Cambridge residents have got used to all the spare street space being allocated to the storage of motor vehicles and very little for bikes. The result has been badly parked bikes cluttering hallways, clinging to drainpipes and other street furniture. The experience on Thoday Street where some on-carriageway racks have been installed is a good example of how the problem can be addressed.
Camcycle resolves to:
1. Champion the replacement of on street car parking with cycle parking where it is clearly needed
2. Identify streets where this should and can be achieved
3. Work with local councillors to survey demand
4. Where there is sufficient local support work with local councillors to prepare proposals for funding. For example, from the Local Highways Improvement fund.This motion was passed by 46 to one.
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16/0215/FUL St John's Innovation Park - office research building + cycle store
Redevelopment of St John's Innovation Centre.
Not sure how this application was missed. But we should be aware of what is going on here. There are a few conditions pending consideration which may provide an opening to make comment if we determine the need.
There is a lot of sheltered cycle parking of both two-tier and Sheffield stand variety in several locations around the site.
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Cycle route maintenance
Cycle routes and cycle paths need maintenance. This issue is somewhere to raise matters relating to standards of path maintenance, problems of poor maintenance, and examples of good maintenance.
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Cambridgeshire Area Greenways Repot
Nigel Brigham has produced a report for the County which reviews existing links out to villages, and suggests improvements that would provide better standard links away from busy roads. I gather it is hoped that some money may be available from the City Deal especially for bits that could be delivered early. The link to the report on the County Council website is below
I suggest an issue for each route:
Waterbeach, Horningsea, Swaffams, Bottisham, Cherry Hinton, Linton, Sawston, Melbourn, Haslingfield, Barton, Comberton, St Ives -
Planning application : S/1499/16/FL Installation of new bike store Science Park
As this is at the Science Park I thought it might be of interest to some members.
Installation of new bike store.
334-335, Cambridge Science Park, Milton, Cambridgeshire
http://plan.scambs.gov.uk/swiftlg/apas/run/WPHAPPDETAIL.DisplayUrl?theApnID=S/1499/16/FL
South Cambridgeshire
Application reference : S/1499/16/FL
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Create Cycle Portals
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? -
City Council Community Facilities Consultation
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.
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Excessive Punctures on Bus-way Cycle path?
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 -
Busway Collisions, incidents, obstructions
An Issue for report and discussion of busway collisions, incursions onto the busway, or obstructions on the busway
This map shows all issues, whether points, routes, or areas:
The most popular issues, based on the number of votes:
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Chisholm Trail
Proposed route along the rail corridor through Cambridge, part of which is in the Cambridge Local Plan.
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NCN route 11 and the Waterbeach Gap
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.
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Dangerous to cross Milton Road diagonally at Toucan crossing
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.
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Lack of cycle routes to Cambridge Business Park, Waterbeach
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?
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A14 very hostile for cycling
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.
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Upgrading Milton Road to Dutch standards
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.
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The 'Milton Road Effect'
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.
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Landbeach to Cambridge Cycleway
The Landbeach Parish Council would like the bridgeway from Landbeach to Cambridge to be upgraded to a cycleway.
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Cambridge Cycling Campaign's "Project Orange"
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)
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Should Cambridge 'Go Dutch' (or Danish)
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.
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State of Waterbeach-Lode link
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.
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Evil posts on busway cycleway
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
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Parking policy review
The County appointed an officer back in June to review parking policy across the County, starting with the City.
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Horningsea to Waterbeach
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.
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Failing to maintain NCN paths
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? -
Public rights-of-way mapping
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.
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Greater Cambridge Partnership (City Deal)
"The Greater Cambridge City Deal was signed by Central Government, Council leaders, businesses and the University of Cambridge and aims to secure hundreds of millions of pounds for the areas of Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire.
The Greater Cambridge City Deal aims to ensure that the success of the area continues by investing in the transport infrastructure, housing and skills needed to see future economic growth.
The first £100m of funding will be made available for transport improvements in the five years from April 2015."
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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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DfT consultation - HGV speed limit rise to 50mph on single carriageways?
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.
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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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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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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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HGV and LGV traffic on Nuffield Road
Campaign for a 300m section of the unguided busway between Milton Road and the pedestrian and cyclists access at the end of Nuffield Close to be built as a road, providing a more direct access for lorries and cars to the trading estate.
Nuffield Road’s residential section should then be cut-off for motorised through traffic just past Discovery Way, turning the first part of Nuffield Road into a residential close.
Petition: http://iitm.be/ChestertonTrafficReduction
Picture Gallery: http://iitm.be/NuffieldRoad -
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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Inappropriate surface treatment for cycle route ie Fen Road, Milton
I've had a letter from the council. Not sure if someone put a copy through my door as they knew I was interested in the Fen Road, Milton, as it's dated 30th June which is over two weeks ago.
I think "suface dressing" ie loose chippings, is a totally inappropriate treatment for a road which has not that much motor traffic and rather a lot of cycle traffic. The loose chippings will be a skid and physical hazard for cyclists for months to come.