Catholic Church junction (and nearby Hills Road cycling environment)
Hills Road is not the best welcome to the City for cycling that it could be. It is congested, busy, with problems of cars in cycle lanes, and in general a poor streetscape.
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:
Martin Lucas-Smith // 4 threads
Hills Road is not the best welcome to the City for cycling that it could be. It is congested, busy, with problems of cars in cycle lanes, and in general a poor streetscape.
Created by David Earl // 1 thread
The erection of 11 no. two bed flats, 206 sq m of commercial floorspace (A3) together with associated cycle parking and bin storage following demolition of existing single storey workshop.
Temporary cycle storage, car parking and refuse facilities in connection with 06/0552/FUL
Created by Simon Nuttall // 2 threads
Every few years the City or County publish and refresh their give-away map.
This issue is to capture discussion about the map, including the details included on it, the style of the map and any inaccuracies or other changes that are needed.
Created by David Earl // 1 thread
Notification letter from City Council received
http://idox.cambridge.gov.uk/online-applications/simpleSearchResults.do?action=firstPage
Created by Harry Wood // 1 thread
I cycle southwards down Sussex Way each morning, and the logical thing to do is continue down Hornsey Road. Even better would be if this could somehow join onto the nicely cycle provisioned route down Arnette Road. Would make a logical route southwards, but short of bulldozing some shops, I'm not sure how it could be made to join up better.
So anyway I go down Hornsey Road, but the weird thing is I'm not allowed to turn right from Severn Sisters Rd to Horsey Road. It's weird because there's a little strip of cycle lane on Severn Sisters Road leading into this junction, which would very much imply that the highway planners are expecting cyclists to do this. Maybe there should be a blue 'except cyclists' sign there.... except that cyclists need to avoid running over the pedestrians who are crossing at that time in the traffic light sequence.
I'm actually not sure what can be done to improve this. Maybe someone else can think of something.
Martin Lucas-Smith // 1 thread
The Coe Fen to Granchester route suffers from a few problems:
- Lack of left turn filter at the lights
- Poor surfacing
- Interface with cars along the access road to the car park
This is an application for a new hotel with 127 rooms, a bar, restaurant and car park. The Planning Officers are satisfied it won't have an unacceptable impact on traffic.
Created by cobweb // 1 thread
This former CRC building has been in state of disrepair for some time now and this is application to demolish and construct three new buildings for non-residential educational and training use, following demolition of all buildings on
the site except the Ragged School.
Created by cobweb // 1 thread
The proposal here is to tidy this area up and install 5 extra bike racks.
Created by David Earl // 1 thread
Letter received from City Council re back entrance to Lion Yard and toilets at Fisher Square (which there was lots of fuss about a while back).
Created by cobweb // 5 threads
This is an idea, reported in the Cambridge News, to demolish the Park Street car park and rebuild it, so that the car parking is underground but leaving the cycle parking above ground. Flats would be built on top.
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 cobweb // 1 thread
This is a proposal, as part of the Environmental Improvements Programme, to install cycle racks on the highway near the Derby Store deli and post office. Cycle parking is almost non-existent here but there is not much support for taking away on road car parking apparently.
Created by cobweb // 0 threads
A proposal to restrict right turns from Barton Road or Lammas Land car park into Grantchester Street.
Created by cobweb // 1 thread
A mixed development of ground floor commercial units and 12 flats above those. This will replace the current small parade of shops near the Perne Road roundabout that have got into a state over the years.
This is a proposal to demolish the existing (but now closed) Rosemary Branch pub and replace it with eight houses and two flats.
Created by Rohan Wilson // 1 thread
Planning application here. Access issues need checking.
Created by Gregory Williams // 1 thread
A cycle link is needed to Barton Court Grammar School in order to give the school students and staff a viable means of reaching school.
Created by Gregory Williams // 1 thread
Cyclists need to walk for a short distance to follow NCR2 next to the Prince of Wales Roundabout if they wish to avoid using the A20 on the roundabout.
Created by Gregory Williams // 1 thread
The A2 is a hostile environment for cycling. Cyclists should be directed away from using the A2 towards existing safe alternatives (e.g. RCR16) and the current A2 cycle signs should be removed.
Martin Lucas-Smith // 12 threads
Formal policies on health, with mention of cycling, need to be improved as a way of providing an additional tool to be used in transport and planning.
Martin Lucas-Smith // 33 threads
Collisions, 'accidents' and even occasional deaths involving cyclists remain an issue in Cambridge.
This Cyclescape issue is so we can collect the reports and debate approaches to tackling this issue through the media and through policy objectives.
There are a range of issues regarding cyclists breaking the law in Cambridge. This issue is intended as a container for strategic discussion of how this can be resolved.
There are of course many problems with drivers breaking the law, and discussions need to be in that context also, but this is issue is primarily for addressing the cycling side.
Created by Simon Nuttall // 5 threads
Cycle parking has long been a problem in the Romsey and Petersfield areas, mainly because of lack of proper provision.
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There is a campaign to get Google (who are currently building their new HQ in the King's Cross development) to provide this much-need bridge for pedestrians and cyclists. See http://googlebridge.kccp.org.uk/ .
Created by Andrew Woodward // 1 thread
The bridge between Dean Rd and Longford Close is currently a pedestrian only bridge, marked no cycling. Coupled with other improvements, provision of a decent facility here that could be used by cyclists with minimal conflict with pedestrians would open up a decent quiet route from the schools in Hampton (Hampton Academy, Hampton Boys, LEH) to the A316 cycle route.
Hamish F // 0 threads
There are no contraflow signs when entering Devonshire Rd from Adermans Hill. Cyclists have reported hostility towards them as they ride "against the flow". The markings are correct as the cyclist enters Devonshire Rd from A105 but of course the drivers do not see that.
Created by PurpleSue // 2 threads
I watch in wonder and amazement as the new cycle lane alongside the A41 from Mostyn lights to the zoo is completed - with lamposts in th emiddle of the path - not to mention a three legged road sign which I am sure will make passage impossible.
I will investigate more and take photos....
Created by SamGW // 1 thread
The Road between Great Wilbraham and Fulbourn is very well used by Cyclists, runners and walkers throughout the year. It is a single track road with a 60 MPH speed limit. A bicycle path here would encourage more people to cycle to Fulbourn and Cambridge. The path would significantly improve safety for cars, pedestrians and cyclists.
Created by Paul James // 1 thread
The cycleways along the Thames Path and along Ducks Walk are not connected with the south/east side cycleway across Twickenham Bridge and only to the north/west side cycleway via a long detour through Old Deer Park or along The Avenue.
A ramped way down from the bridge would create a useful route for people into and out of Richmond town center that is currently only possible by using two flights of steps.
Meeting with Leeds City Council to discuss possible remedial works due to high casualty rates.
Created by Mark A // 1 thread
A dropped kerb at this point would improve the route that people can take to cycle between Bear Flat and the city centre - making it easier to use Calton Gardens to avoid the section of footpath on the alternative via Holloway and St Marks Church.
Created by chdot // 1 thread
Longstanding issue about 'optimum' design, particularly to reduce conflict caused by vehicles turning from Teviot Pl due to signal phases.
Created by Paul James // 0 threads
All the sideroads between Richmond Circus and Manor Circus are a danger to cyclists on the cycleway.
There is no warning to motorists that there will be crossing cyclists and the building angles make it hard to see if anything is coming.
Turning traffic from the A316 can have an obscured view of the cycleway due to foliage.
Decrease corner radii.
Make road hump more pronounced.
Make cycle surface colour continuous across roadway.
Add markings across roadway.
Add warning signage.
Move give way lines back to before cycleway or add additional give way lines.
Where the quite good segregated cycle lane joins The Ride, DfT advice was certainly NOT followed. As per DfT advice, when cycle lanes are merged with the carriageway, it should be done via a length of dropped kerb that is flush with the carriageway and the cycle lane shouldn't be joined at a 90 degree angle to the road.
Here, the cycle lane runs parallel to the road for a short distance before it loops around a large boulder specifically placed to force cyclists around and then finally joins the road at a 90 degree angle.
The kerb, though dropped, is far from flush and creates a risk for cyclists joining the track from the road.
This junction between the road and the track should be scrapped and redone according to DfT guidelines.
Created by timlennon // 1 thread
Initial quietway consultation from Richmond. This is a thread to build RCC's response
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 Ned Harrison // 1 thread
Holywells Park has a section of cycle route 51 running through it, linking South East Ipswich to the centre with a pleasant and safe route down to the waterfront.
During Winter, the park is closed at dusk, sometimes as early as 4, meaning that just when the roads are most dangerous (dark and wet) cyclists are forced onto steep and busy routes either along Cliff Lane or up Bishops Hill.
The closures are largely at the request of the Park Friends group. I've spoken to them, and their concerns seem to be largely about what might go on after dark. It's not clear that there is any evidence for this, nor that the current situation of locking the main gates but leaving others would do anything to deter misbehaviour.
Keeping it open as a cycle route would ensure a legitimate presence in the park, and help provide less confident cyclists in the area with a safe route to and from town.
I'd propose either locking later, or for a trial period leaving the park unlocked.
Despite the number of bridges that link Newcastle and Gateshead, there is not a single route across the Tyne that throws bike users in to conflict with either high volumes of motor vehicles at high speeds or that uses shared paths that create potential conflict with pedestrians.
Due to the amount of people who already cycle between Newcastle and Gateshead and the potential for this to grow, there should be at least one high level crossing that gives bike users there own space when crossing the Tyne.
Created by Paul James // 0 threads
West side the cycleway terminates at the Manor Rd zebra crossing.
East side it vanishes 20 meters from the junction at the Lower Richmond Rd zebra crossing.
Path between is not shared use and is very narrow due to excessive road width on roundabout due to dedicated turning lane and large roundabout center.
The service entrance to the motorway services now has priority over the shared use path which runs parallel to the main road.
I have contacted both Hampshire County Council and Test Valley Borough Council about this change in priorities, but neither has responded beyond a cursory "we have received your email".
This is yet another example of through traffic being de-prioritised simply because it is on a cycle (or shared) path, rather than on a road.
Created by Dylan // 1 thread
There is a fairly good cycle lanes from Kingston towards Richmond up until you reach the Richmond Council border where Richmond Road (A307) turns into the Upper Ham Road (A307) and eventually Petersham Road (A307). At traffic lights along this route there are reserved areas for cyclists but along the roads there is nothing to remind drivers that cyclists share the road especially when the road narrows after Sandy Lane through Petersham. The road surface here is terrible and the speed bumps are pointless because some driver sprint between the bumps.
The best solution would be to remove the cyclists from this route altogether by upgrading the Thames Path to create a proper cycle path along the River Thames towards Richmond that currently stops at Teddington Lock. If a cycle/foot bridge linking Ham with Twickenham was built over Eel Pie along this route it would create an obvious link for those want to reach Twickenham.
Created by Shaun McDonald // 0 threads
The traffic lights at Eagle Street were timed such that travelling eastbound you would always get caught at the second set unless you were extremely fast setting off. After discussions with the council and it brought up at the Sustainability Forum by Cllr Smart, it was fixed to increase the length of time that those lights were green, and was great as you always knew you could get through the second set of lights without having to wait unless you just went through the earlier ones just before they went red.
However over the past few days the signal timing has changed back to the older timing where the probability of getting through the second set is virtually nil. In an ideal world they would be phased such that the first set would go green, then the second set would go green several seconds later at the point where you would be arriving at them, rather than having them change to green almost at the same time.
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 Roy Russell // 0 threads
This is a good location for "No Entry except Cycles".
The existing Traffic Order allows cycling past the No Entry sign.
The existing "cycle bypass" over the footway, which was rarely used, has been obstructed and largely destroyed by the adjacent building site.
The simplest solution is to add a supplementary plate "Except Cycles" under the No Entry sign.
Created by Shaun McDonald // 1 thread
Many cyclists won't cycle to Harwich International from the Ipswich direction due to the roads. There really should be a high quality cycle route for this to continue the cycle journey from The Netherlands, where you can ride of the ferry and on to quality cycle infrastructure. The fact people choose the train is not a good sign.
This issue is the overall goal, and needs to be broken down into smaller sub issues of smaller more specific projects or improvements that can work towards this goal.
Created by TonyBeaumont // 1 thread
Out side the royal orthopaedic hospital up top 30 cars are parked in the cycle lane every day. Cyclists are forced out into the traffic lane of the A38 over a distance of about 1/4 mile.
Created by Stephan Matthiesen // 1 thread
The chicane at the west end of the Magdalene Glen path interrupts the flow when going uphills, particularly unpleasant for people with weak knees. It also forces cyclists uphills often to stop and start when there are other people going through, as it's not wide enough to pass.
It doesn't serve any useful purpose at it is on the top of the slope where cyclists are very slow anyway. As it's uphills, there is little danger that e.g. kids run out onto the wide pavement of Duddingston Pk South. Cyclists from the West are slow at this point anyway as they turn into the path.
Created by WilliamNB // 0 threads
When cycling north-bound along Tavistock Road, there is a cycle lane in places. Once out from under the Crownhill Road bridge the lane turns sharply left, forcing cyclists to yield to traffic joining Tavistock Road from the left.
The Highway Code states you should yield to traffic from the right and this junction is very dangerous to cyclists. It would be far better to simply continue the cycle lane straight ahead and erect yield signs to traffic joining Tavistock Road