Elections

The Green Party fully supports the principle of replacing car-parking with secure cycle parking, especially in the city centre and close to colleges and other workplaces.
While it is hard to ensure 100% that bicycles are secure from theft. Secure bike parking that is well lit can go a long way towards this.
The police also need to take bike crime more seriously. Being someone that myself has had several bikes stolen reported them and never seen them again, this should be a priority. I think in particular the police should concentrate on organised bike crime that no doubt also takes place.
Of course at the end of the day. Where you park a bike and with what lock is the most important factor in whether it could potentially be stolen or not. Educating short term visitors and students could stop a laissez-faire approach. As councillor I would like to ensure that the police and council work effectively with each other to stop crime and build safe cycle parking.

As I have already said I support the police giving over more time to stop bike thefts. In terms of policing of cyclists I believe it is important for both cyclists and pedestrians in particular if cycling is properly policed. Then the few that do brake the law don't make the rest of us look like a load of out-laws.
I think a warning system, three strikes then a fine would be just as effective as fixed fines and with this educating those who consistently offend. No reasonable cyclist should go without lights or cycle or pavements where this is not permitted.

I do think we should be pushing to see 20MPH speed limits for residential streets across the city and 20MPH for the entirety of the city centre and those busy roads most used by cyclists.
20MPH puts cyclists and other road users at a more equal level and encourages less confident cyclists to get on their bikes as well as making us all feel safer.
Of course it also helps pedestrians as they don't have cars hurtling pass, hence they feel safer.

I do support this idea and think it would be of great advantage to Newnham residents who use this route. It is often quite a dangerous cross roads as cyclists often don't know whether cars are turning into Pembroke Street on heading straight on.
Beyond this I would also call for the number of spaces at city centre car parks (especially Grand Arcade) to be cut dramatically which would remove a lot of vehicular traffic from central streets. I don't think this is the only instance in which a junction could be redefined to give cyclists and pedestrians priority and think that they should be looked at case by case.

I am a cyclist and have been since I was young. Also being a pedestrian and occasional bus user I am aware that there can be a conflict between these sustainable forms of transport within the city. I think the answer to this has to be to make room for pedestrians and cyclists as a priority. If this means pushing out cars altogether then fine and if it means buses being redirected then so be it.
We are the cycling capital of England but we must do more to encourage new folk to cycle and those who do so already to make it their main mode of transport.
I would also like to see dutch style cycle-ways on road and see more separation between cyclists and pedestrians to ensure that pedestrians don't feel intimidated.
In terms of further sustainable transport it strikes me that the interchange at Cambridge railway station whether you are trying to park your bike or travel with it is very substandard. I would like to see an urgent decision to be made on provision for bikes there.
As a recent survey said a majority of people still drive to work in the city, I think this proves why we need to dramatically improve cycling facilities and make sure that it is cycling that the majority choose.