Camcycle trustees respond to the publication of the Greater Cambridge Partnership’s Sustainable Travel Zone report

Camcycle’s Board of Trustees remains committed to our charity’s core remit of more, better and safer cycling for the public benefit of people in our region. Our vision is of a thriving and sustainable place with cleaner, greener and safer streets where people are enabled to walk, wheel and cycle for more journeys. This would reduce pollution, congestion, transport poverty and carbon emissions, delivering a better future for everyone.

Camcycle vision 2020

In 2022, we supported the key principles of the Sustainable Travel Zone (STZ) package as we believe road pricing is necessary to fund public transport, invest in walking and cycling and reduce traffic levels to free up road space for sustainable travel modes. In our official response to the Greater Cambridge Partnership Making Connections consultation, we also stated that the details of the proposals needed to be adjusted and refined to reflect the concerns of local communities, and today’s publication of the consultation report includes a huge amount of feedback on ways to do that. We’re particularly pleased to see very strong support for walking and cycling improvements, a more accessible city and improved public spaces. We note that when asked in the consultation questionnaire what additional measures respondents would most like to see funded, the most common comment received was to improve cycling infrastructure.

Chart showing an average of 75% in support of better active travel and public realm improvements

In a recent survey of Camcycle members, 74% of respondents agreed with our position on the STZ. Over 90% of respondents agreed with the statements from our official response calling for a package of walking and cycling quick wins to be implemented before any road charge, for a new road network hierarchy for the city to be implemented in tandem with the STZ and for 20% of the road charge revenue to be ring-fenced for active travel improvements. In addition, 80% wanted to see more secure cycle parking included in the STZ package as a way to help more people switch from driving to cycling.

Camcycle survey respondents indicated that the changes that were most likely to increase their support for the STZ were a commitment to bus franchising and increased financial support (through discounts, exemptions or reimbursements) to disabled people, those on low-incomes and city residents.

Chart showing whether Camcycle members would be more or likely to support a road charge based on a list of changes

Camcycle will continue to work with our member community and partners in the Cambridgeshire Sustainable Travel Alliance to scrutinise the current report and any forthcoming proposals. The scale of interventions needed to deliver significant increases in cycling and meet local and national targets on transport requires a holistic approach to sustainable travel, including measures that reduce motor vehicle journeys. We call on our transport authorities to listen closely to the voices of local communities (including those not represented in the Making Connections responses) and to provide effective support to those who will find it the most difficult to make the transitions we must make for a fairer, healthier and more sustainable future.