South Cambridge Cycling Improvement Programme
This programme makes recommendations to the Highways and Transport Committee.
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:
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Think Communities - approach to support locals in tackling road safety
This thread describes a mechanism by which local communities can engage with decision-making bodies in order to achieve progress in their areas.
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Vision Zero Partnership
The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Road Safety Partnership has been renamed 'Vision Zero Partnership' for the next stage in its strategy, spanning 2020-2030.
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Highways and Transport Committee
New thread for committee meetings
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Multiple potholes descending Hills Rd rail bridge
The cycle lane on the Northside of the Hills Rd rail bridge has many potholes where the red tarmac surface is missing. This is extremely hazardous for cyclists to avoid whilst descending with car lanes on either side. You could easily fall off into the path of motor traffic.
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Tricky crossing to get onto Lendal Bridge from cycle route
It is very tricky to get onto Lendal bridge from the south while cycling; this is a major crossing point for bikes, as it is the junction for cyclists (including families) coming along the river from both directions if they need to get into the centre of town (i.e. the Minster). Currently it is just a pedestrian crossing, which therefore involves cyclists having to get off their bikes, cross the road, and then get back onto their bikes in a dangerous position, just at a sharp left-hand bend. If this could be modified (e.g. toucan crossing etc.), that would be really helpful.
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CCC/20/040/FUL Hauxton - Southwest Park & Ride + new NMU bridge
CCC/20/040/FUL | Proposed Travel Hub, to include car parking, cycle, coach, and horse parking, travel hub building, photovoltaic panels, substation, lighting; significant infrastructure improvements to include road widening of the A10 along Cambridge Road, Hauxton Road and M11 Junction 11 north bound slip road, and a new dedicated busway to include strengthening of existing agricultural bridge; provision for a new Shared Use Path, including new bridge across the M11; with associated drainage, landscaping (including reconfiguration of bunds), biodiversity enhancement areas and infrastructure. | Land To The North/north-west Of Hauxton Road (A10), To The North-west And North Of Junction 11 Of The M11 And To The West Of Cambridge Road (A10) CB22 5HT
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20/02578/S73 Marleigh - remove condition 58: Toucan crossing of Ditton Lane
20/02578/S73 | Removal of condition 58 (Toucan crossing at the junction of Ditton Lane with Newmarket Road) of planning permission S/2682/13/OL | Land North Of Newmarket Road Fen Ditton Cambridge South Cambridgeshire CB5 8AA
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20/02460/FUL: 21 new dwellings, land north of Bannold Rd, Waterbeach
Mention of safety for cyclists on roads leading to houses but no detail. Lacking detail of safety for storage of bikes and access for them.
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Milton Road cycle/foot paths narrow and/or blocked
City Fibre commenced fibre-laying work on Milton Road in mid-June, digging trenches on both sides of the road at various locations between Downhams Lane and Gilbert Road, mostly on the north-west side.
This has reduced the combined width of the dual-direction cycle lane and pavement down to about 2 feet in places, often preventing cyclists/pedestrians from being able to physically pass each other. In some places, the footpath and cycle lane have been completely blocked with barriers for periods of time, forcing people into the main traffic lanes. In one of these places, keep-left signs have been put up next to the kerb in the reverse direction, implying that cyclists on the path should go into the traffic lane on the wrong side of the road. Social distancing for Covid-19 is obviously not possible in much of this area now, particularly when groups of workers are standing closely together in the remaining narrow path itself next to the work sites.
This has coincided with the re-opening of the primary schools and there are quite a few people using the paths. I've had to stop my kid cycling to school as we no longer have safe route down there.
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53 serviced appartments, Queen Edith's Road
The erection of new buildings to provide 53 serviced apartments (sui generis) together with hard and soft landscaping, basement car parking spaces and associated infrastructure and works | Land At 11 Queen Ediths Way Cambridge Cambridgeshire.
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20/02318/FUL: alterations to existing guest house to form 4 dwellings, Arbury Rd
20/02318/FUL | Second floor rear extension and alterations to existing guest house and apartments to form 4 dwellings.
55-57 Arbury Road, Cambridge, CB4 2JB.
NO CYCLING PROVISION.
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20/02160/FUL: New 3 storey building (10 units), 4 Highworth Avenue
Proposed plan: Demolition of existing building and construction of a new 3 storey residential building comprising 10 units (net increase of nine) along with access, cycle parking and associated infrastructure.
Bike store for 14 cycles, unclear what kind of fastenings (Sheffield stands/other). Is it big enough to enable cycles in the furthest cycle spaces to manoeuvre in/out? Is the entrance wide enough to accommodate movement of adapted bikes?
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20/02564/S73: Construction of 6 storey office building, Station Rd, CB1 2JD
Section 73 application to vary condition 2 of permission 15/0864/FUL: will 254 cycle parking spaces be sufficient for this office space?
Demolition of Leda House and construction of a new 6 storey office building comprising 7421sq.m (GEA) of office floorspace (Class B1); 254 cycle parking spaces; associated plant; hard and soft landscaping; a basement with 40 car parking spaces and 5 motorcycle bays; infrastructure works including basement car park ramp (Scheme B) to permit improved fire escape provision, enhanced cycle facilities and revised elevational treatment.
Location: 20 Station Road, Cambridge, CB1 2JD
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20/02223/FUL: new 2 bed dwelling to replace existing garage, CB3 0HH
Proposed new 1.5 story, 2 bed dwelling with basement to replace existing garage at rear of 34 Huntingdon Road CB3 OHH.
Cycle store 220x120. Is this sufficient for a two bed dwelling (where we assume 2x bikes)?
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20/02299/FUL: Erection of 2 storey dwelling, 75 Carlton Way
Planning application for erection of 2 storey dwelling (1 bedroom) with associated access and landscaping, 75 Carlton Way Cambridge CB4 2DF. No clear evidence that access or storage is sufficient for a bike.
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York Square Area - mini low-traffic neighbourhood consultation
Tower Hamlets is consulting on mini low-traffic neighbourhood interventions around York Square.
https://consultprojectcentre.co.uk/yorksquare
Consultation deadline 19 July 2020.
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CCC/20/033/FUL A1307 / Haverhill Road / Gog Farm shop junction
CCC/20/033/FUL | Construction of a new staggered junction, footway / cycleway; an at grade unsignalised crossing point for pedestrians and cyclists at the A1307 / Haverhill Road / Gog Farm shop junction; a new right turn filter lane and upgraded crossing point for pedestrians and cyclists at the Gog Farm Shop entrance, including associated engineering and landscape works. | Junction Of A1307 Babraham Road With Haverhill Road / And The Access To Gog Farm Shop Heath Farm Shelford CB22 3AD, (within The Parish Of Stapleford).
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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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Hospital Rd - Southway ramp
The current stairs and ramp down to Southway from Hospital Road prevent cycles using what would be a useful node in the wider cycle network.
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A120 to A133 Link Road and Rapid Transit System
"Linking the A120 and A133 with a new road will unlock land to provide housing and business space, improving connectivity locally and within the wider region. It will serve a new Park and Choose site and manage traffic congestion going to Colchester Town Centre, the University of Essex and its Knowledge Gateway Technology and Research Park.
A Rapid Transit System that will prioritise public transport on a key route through Colchester. It will enable housing and business growth, allowing new and existing residents to benefit from frequent, high-quality, reliable transport connecting to the key destinations within the town. These types of system have proved successful in other towns and cities, helping create a shift away from car travel. A recently implemented example of this is the Belfast Rapid Transit Glider.
The system will service a new Park and Choose site on the proposed new community east of Colchester and help to better connect future growth areas with the rest of the town."
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Proposed East Colchester Garden Community
"Braintree, Colchester and Tendring Councils along with Essex County Council joined together to put forward plans for three new settlements built to Garden City Principles.
The three sites based west of Braintree, on the Braintree / Colchester border and on the Colchester / Tendring border could deliver up to 43,000 new homes along the North Essex A120 corridor with significant employment opportunities and transformational new infrastructure over the next 50 years."
In May 2020 the planning inspector found the other two proposed settlements to be unsound, leaving East of Colchester as the only one of the three that could proceed.
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Planning application: 20/00398/OUTI3 Erection of multi-storey car park
Erection of multi-storey car park and ancillary buildings; Creation of access road and paved external spaces; Re-location of site access onto Friars Bridge Road. Outline application to consider access, scale and layout only (landscaping and appearance as reserved matters).
Portman Road C Car Park Portman Road Ipswich Suffolk
Ipswich
Application reference : 20/00398/OUTI3
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Road Closure: Howland Street
Road Closure on Howland Street every weekend in June
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Leytonstone Road - parking on footway and in cycle lane
The section of Leytonstone Road E15 between number 165 and Cherry Tree Road had a single yellow line waiting restrictions, loading restriction kerb markings and bollards until 2017-18 when the road was resurfaced. A new advisory cycle lane was introduced, but the yellow lines and kerb markings were not reinstated, although I can find no evidence that the traffic order has been revoked. Footway parking has since become a serious problem here, both narrowing the available width of the footway and obstructing the cycle lane. The single yellow line and kerb markings need to be reinstated. As CEOs seem unable to enforce the footway parking, consideration should also be given to converting the cycle lane to a mandatory lane, which would enable CCTV to be used to issue PCNs by post from 22 June 2020 (there is a Newham CCTV camera at the corner of Leytonstone Road and Gurney Road).
This map shows all issues, whether points, routes, or areas:
The most popular issues, based on the number of votes:
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Fountain Roundabout
The Fountain Roundabout is a major barrier to cycling around New Malden. It's a large, multi-lane roundabout with no cycling facilities (and poor pedestrian crossing provision too). Lying just to the south of New Malden High Street it's key to unlocking short journeys by bike to the town centre.
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Castle Street Cycle Lane - Taxi parking
Castle Street cycle lane is a contraflow cycle lane on a one way street in Sheffield. It has been here since March 1997 and allows cyclists enter the city centre from the network of cycle paths on the East, avoiding some big arterial routes with no cycling provision.
For the past 15 years this cycle lane has been plagued by Hackney Carriage drivers parking illegally on this cycle lane, blocking cyclists access and forcing them into oncoming traffic. This has been the case for over a decade.
There is a taxi rank on the pavement side of the cycle lane, taxis often fill up this rank and overflow, parking in the cycle lane, blocking the way for cyclists.
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Flagship NCN1 crossing Clerk Street
Is this really the best that Edinburgh can do for the flagship national cycle network route 1 to get it to cross Clerk Street? You have to go through a pile of bins, on to the pavement to get round a barrier and then try and judge it right to cross the road, or use the nearby pedestrian crossing.
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High motor traffic area of Sustrans Route 4
Sustrans route 4 coming from the canal path on its main route into Bath city centre has a high level of traffic conflict and the need to filter between two tight lanes of traffic with a large proportion of LGVs coming down the A36 Beckford Road.
The right turn from Sydney Place southbound into Great Pulteney Street is signposted as no right turn as well as being route 4, and has no refuge to turn from.
It should be possible to route the path through Sydney Gardens as the Darlington Place/Sydney Place westbound/Great Pulteney Street junction has been improved to increase pedestrian flows.
Some non-cycling residents are also concerned about cyclists using the pavement in this area too.
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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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A41 Divides Guilden Sutton from Chester - better crossing needed
The A41 ring road cuts across a useful quiet route north-west out of Chester, which is an alternative to the traffic-free Greenway (which is unlit, and slippery in icy conditions). Crossing the A41 during busy periods - e.g. when commuting at rush-hour - can be a slow and potentially very dangerous process, especially after dark. A better crossing for cyclists and pedestrians, or a lower speed limit on the A41 (or both), would be very helpful here.
[Original version of map was wrong; I've now updated it.] -
Replace Hooper Street gates with bollard
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.
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Reach Fair Ride
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.htmlI've created this issue to help plan this event.
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Cycle Superhighway 1 consultation (CS1)
Transport for London's public consultation on Cycle Superhighway 1 is open from 16 February to 29 March. The LCC office has set up this thread to facilitate discussion of the proposals.
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pinch points Southwood Road
There are several pedestrian refuges along the road particularly at the western end of the road. The refuges cause a pinch point for cyclists. The road marking confuse priorities between those using the on road cycle path and other traffic.
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Richmond Green - one way street
Cyclist coming from the river come up Friars Lane exit and have to currently route right round Richmond Green because it is one way. Many do not and simply cycle across the green. The path across the green should be formally opened up to cyclists - as a share path with pedestrian priority - or a seperate track provided along the south side of Richmond Green.
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Prince St Bridge - Quick Fix
Prince St bridge is an anarchic pigs ear. I like pigs and fond of a bit of anarchy but it's getting beyond a joke. Of course it will all be sorted out properly in due course but we could live with this for years. Here's a quick fix:
SOUTH
1. Move south vehicle stop line back 10m behind tramlines
2. Remove all bollards unless one or two kept in line with centre of bridge with arrows right for cars
3. Widen cycle lane from bridge to Festival way turn so suitable for 2-way cycling.
4. Put in Give Way painted line at an angle running from enlarged cycle lane to centre line so southbound cyclists alerted to need to filter across traffic.NORTH
1. Remove all bollards
2. Widen cycle lane for 2 way cycling all the way up to the traffic lights with The Grove.
3. Remove 5 bollards on each side of north bound traffic light along with the two set back
4. Paint cycle lane passing behind light and then back onto carriageway making it nice and clear that it's an option for cyclists when lights red or they can carry on (as most will, no worse than now but at least it will be clear that they can treat these as 'give way')
5. There will need to be 'give way' paint to make clear that pedestrians have right of way on the by-pass.Yes it's muddled but less so than now and makes the desire lines easier. It's also a cheap paint based fix pending the proper job.
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Ommision of lights creates danger on cyclepath
The cycle path crosses the soutbound exit from the M53 at Cheshire Oaks. The exit is light controlled for traffic as they enter the roundabout. This provides a safe time for cyclists to ride across the sliproad. However the lights are not visible to cyclist on the path and there is no light provided to advise cyclists when they can cross.
This makes it very difficult and dangerous for cyclists to know when they can safely cross. This would require no physical change to the road layout simply a new light to show cyclists when to cross.
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Various improvements between Ipswich and Harwich International
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.
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St Andrew's St - Emmanuel St Junction
further to the piece in newsletter 128, I wonder if any thought has been given to the difficulty of turning right into Emmanuel Street if you are coming towards the town centre from St Andrew's Street? We go fairly often to the Arts Cinema and this is the obvious way for us to go home, but it is impossible to turn right on the correct side of the bollard at present as it is designed only for left turning cycles coming out of town. There is, however, nothing to suggest that such a right turn is illegal.
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Poor exit from West Cambridge site onto Clerk Maxwell Road
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.
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A5117 Cheshire Oaks to Stanlow, Thornton and Ince / Elton
The A5117 at this point has some sections of non-protected cycle lane, but they are not continuous, and they disappear at a number of pinch points. The road carries a lot of very fast moving heavy traffic, and is dangerous and unpleasant to cycle on. It would be a useful route for people travelling by bike to or from Stanlow Refinery, Cheshire Oaks, the University of Chester at Thornton Science Park, and Ince & Elton villages, but is currently only used by a tiny number of very brave and confident cyclists. This situation could be improved by making the cycle lane continuous along the whole route.
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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? -
Lower Mortlake Road side roads
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. -
Holywells Park Cycle Route
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.
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City centre - road designations
The (draft / emerging) 1Core Strategy seems to hint at a bus loop (Policy UC7) and a motor vehicle "ring road" (Policy UC9) too. It mentions pedestrian routes but there's no mention of cycle routes. See attached photo. (I didn't mark up the map, as it might become a tad too messy)
The "ring road" is just like Scott / esde84 described before http://newcycling.org/space4cycling/part2 (in comments)
The photo in the attachment is from "Newcastle Proposals Map" listed here http://onecorestrategyng-consult.limehouse.co.uk/portal/examination_library (not sure how long thi link will stay live, link rot may happen)
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Regent Street (Route 9)
Meeting with Leeds City Council to discuss possible remedial works due to high casualty rates.
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Northstowe Planning Application
Major planning application here - c. 10,000 homes
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MMW/Forrest Rd
Longstanding issue about 'optimum' design, particularly to reduce conflict caused by vehicles turning from Teviot Pl due to signal phases.
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Turn Dock Street entrance into continuous pavement/cycle track
The entrance to Dock Street should be turned into a continuous footway with pedestrian and cyclist priority over turning vehicles akin to this Danish junction: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcnmLU1ClTo
This would improve sight lines for pedestrians too as the dropped kerbs are away from the junction, and it would also go with the pedestrian desire line as many tend to cross closer to the junction than the dropped kerbs. It would also slow down the vehicles entering the narrow street.