The following webpage contains links to a number of videos from a video camera attached to a bicycle ridden down King’s Hedges Road.
These videos were done by Ben Brierton of the Arbury Park Subgroup and are reproduced here with thanks.
Here’s what the County Council’s Safety Audit said:
Some of the carriageway widths between islands and at junctions fall into the range (3.1m to 3.9m) that can lead to problems of cars attempting to overtake cyclists where there is not really enough room. Where widths are less than 3.1m drivers are unlikely to attempt overtaking, as there is clearly not enough room. Where widths are greater than 3.9m there should be sufficient room to complete the manoeuvre safely. … Wherever possible kerb-to-kerb widths in this range should be avoided.
That recommendation was ignored. Here’s the result:
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Kings Hedges Road pinch points are dangerous for cyclists Example of the daily close encounters that cyclists and drivers contend with on Kings Hedges Road in Cambridge. |
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Kings Hedges Road – car very close to concrete island at pinch point Another close encounter on Kings Hedges Road in Cambridge. Notice how close the car comes to the concrete island to avoid hitting the cyclist. |
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Kings Hedges Road – pinch point dodge and weave Cars weave between cyclists and concrete islands on Kings Hedges Road in Cambridge. |
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Kings Hedges Road – rushing through pinch points between cyclists More close encounters on Kings Hedges Road in Cambridge. Drivers rush to get ahead of cyclists through the pinch points, resulting in dangerous manoeuvres like this. |
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Kings Hedges Road – Cyclists forced into FOURTH lane to turn right Here the cylist ahead has to take the fourth lane to turn right into Arbury Road. This is actually signposted as a cycle route! There isn’t a single cycle lane at this junction to protect vulnerable cyclists. |
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Kings Hedges Road – where there should be a cycle lane The approach to this junction requires me to be in the second lane. There should be a cycle lane marked in red paint to protect me. Without it, this is what happens. |
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Kings Hedges Road – pinch point (11 Sept 2006) Watch how close the red car comes to the concrete island to force past the cyclist behind me. Then squeezes past me at the next pinch point. |
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Kings Hedges Road – blue car weaves through Blue car weaves through pinch points between cyclists. |
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Kings Hedges Road – red car passes within inches Red car passes within inches through pinch point. |
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Kings Hedges Road – too fast too close It’s a shame I can’t record the audio. The sound of cars approaching at this speed just as you enter a pinch point is terrifying. You just brace yourself for an impact, not quite sure if they’ve allowed enough space. Once you’ve been brushed on the arm by a wing mirror, as I have, you lose all confidence in your safety. |
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Kings Hedges Road – white van at pinch point 12th September 2006 PM – White van has to brake to get through the pinch point. |
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Kings Hedges Road – pinch point (another Audi) Another Audi driver … |