5 ways you can help make cycling and walking better in Cambridgeshire

Did you know that according to a survey by Cambridge Living Streets (a branch of the national walking charity), less than 6% of respondents were happy with their experiences as a pedestrian in the city? Sloping, uneven, cracked or potholed pavements were their top concern, followed by footways blocked by parked vehicles and waste bins. Meanwhile, a Sustrans study published last year revealed that safety is the biggest barrier to cycling in Greater Cambridge. 15% of residents don’t cycle but would like to and 82% of people think cycle lanes separated from motor traffic and pedestrians would help them cycle more.

Cambridgeshire County Council is currently consulting on its Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan and wants to know if it has identified the right priorities for active travel in the county. Please spend some time looking at the routes and options in your area before sharing your views and ideas. There are several other consultations taking place at the moment: we encourage you to spend a few minutes of your time on as many as you can to help make walking and cycling better for everyone.

1) Help create a cycling and walking plan for Cambridgeshire

This is a big masterplan for cycling and walking which will help Cambridgeshire County Council select the most important areas to improve in each district of Cambridgeshire.

Have your say on everything from village connections to urban low-traffic neighbourhoods, and help the council identify the missing links that currently create barriers to cycling. There is a short online survey, an interactive map and a selection of documents including cycling and walking maps and lists for each area. We encourage everyone to get involved.

2) Speak up for active travel in St Ives

The Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority is consulting on improvements to transport around St Ives. Share your views on the issues that concern you and have your say on the six options laid out.

Option 6 focuses on improving infrastructure for pedestrians, cyclists and horseriders. The survey also includes an interactive map, where you can mark and describe areas you’d like to see improved.

3) Share views on cycle parking in Cambridge

The Greater Cambridge Partnership and Cambridge City Council are working together to review cycle parking at the Queen Anne Terrace Car Park in Gonville Place.

Their survey encourages people to share their thoughts and experiences about parking at the site; the results will be used to create proposals to improve on the existing number of spaces and security currently available.

4) Improve routes around Addenbrooke’s and the Biomedical Campus

The Biomedical Campus is developing a new wayfinding system for the public space around Addenbrooke’s and other buildings on the campus.

Their online survey asks people how easy they find it to navigate routes and junctions around the site.

5) Sign Smarter Cambridge Transport’s petition
to the Greater Cambridge Partnership

Camcycle and many other local groups are supporting a new petition from Smarter Cambridge Transport which calls on the Greater Cambridge Partnership to change its spending priorities from controversial busways and car parks to walking, cycling and bus schemes. These could be delivered more quickly and provide greater benefit for more people with less environmental damage. With less than 6 years’ carbon budget left for our region based on current emissions, a new mayor and a new administration at the county council, now is the time to ask for change.