Demand management:
a congestion charge for Cambridge?

The County Council have published proposals (including indicative maps which show the kind of changes they have in mind) for a bid for £500m of transport investment, followed by a weekday morning peak -only congestion charge from around 2011. This is following a study funded under a government initiative, the TIF pump-priming round 2.

These proposals have the potential for a huge investment in cycling and improvements to the cycling environment through limiting traffic especially on some key routes.

The Cycling Campaign’s take on the proposals

See our Newsletter 73 (August/September 2007) article on some of the details and the prospects for cycling.

Map of the cycling proposals

Indicative map of the cycling proposals on the County Council’s web site. An ‘indicative’ map just shows the Council’s current thoughts of what they would like to do and what they think is achievable, rather than firm proposals or detailed paths of routes.

Key points of interest for cyclists:

The Chisholm Trail, our long-proposed route alongside the railway: a segregated cycle route would then exist from Histon and Milton in the North to Addenbrooke’s, Trumpington, and Shelford in the South.
‘The Tins’, ‘Snakey Path’ and those across Coldhams Common would receive new bridges suitable for cycling, as well as major upgrades
Town end of Huntington Road and Hills Road with restricted space for motor vehicles with good quality cycle lanes in the freed-up space
Milton Road becomes cycleable again
Many more …

Press Release: “Congestion charge opponents ‘ignoring basic housing growth realities'”

[PDF version of press release] – 16th August 2007

Cambridge Cycling Campaign continues to express concern that opponents of a possible congestion charge are ignoring basic realities about the development of Cambridge. The Campaign considers that the proposals must be seen as part of an unprecedented £500m up-front proposed package of public transport, Park & Ride and cycling improvements. Many opponents of the congestion charge seem to be unaware of these potential improvements.

The Campaign’s Co-ordinator, Martin Lucas-Smith, said:

Some 50,000 new dwellings are planned for the outskirts of Cambridge in the coming decade. That amounts to perhaps 125,000 new people, very many of whom are likely to want to travel in and around Cambridge. We already have huge traffic problems on major routes, and that’s without the vast influx of new residents expected in the next 10 years. Radical measures are needed.

Jim Chisholm, Liaison Officer, said:

There are two forms of demand management on the table. Either drivers can sit in total gridlock, or the city can potentially get an enormous £500 million of new transport investment coupled with a weekday morning-only peak congestion charge to make people think more carefully about how they travel. With 50,000 extra new dwellings around the edge of the City in the coming decade, a radical change simply has to be made. And the reduced levels of congestion would make Cambridge a far more pleasant place to live, work, and play.

Press Officer, James Woodburn, said:

Although we as a Campaign are waiting for the full details before we can pledge our full backing, the proposals have real merit because of the half-a-billion pounds of up-front government transport money that it would bring. Opponents of a charge need to say otherwise how they would cater for the huge influx of people to the area to prevent intolerable congestion.

Facts and Figures

The Campaign is concerned that many of the facts about the proposals have not yet been heard by those currently opposing the scheme:

The charge would be 7.30am-9.30am only, Monday to Friday. So there would be little effect on people travelling for shopping or leisure.
The £500m of transport investment would benefit all road users, including motorists, by vastly improving the alternatives to the car. But the government is only offering this money on condition that Congestion Charging is introduced.
We understand there are to be another 50,000 dwellings (perhaps 125,000 people) around Cambridge by 2016 in an attempt to cater for demand and to lower house prices.
The estimated £30m which we understand would be raised annually from any charge would be ploughed back into local transport provision.
Continental-style cycle provision could be introduced with the sort of money on the table. Making space for cycling in this way has real potential to increase levels of cycling and thus reduce motor traffic.

Continental provision: ‘hybrid’ provision, as proposed by the Campaign: on-road but partially segregated from traffic
The 10% level of traffic reduction, even accounting for new residents, that the County Council envisage would be a great benefit to all road users.
The charge would be introduced only from about 2011 once the package of measures has been implemented, so the alternatives would be in place before any charge.

ENDS

PRESS RELEASE: “Refusing half a billion pounds of funding for transport schemes would be madness”

[PDF version of press release] – 26th July 2007

Cambridge Cycling Campaign has said that to refuse a package combining half a billion pounds of free government money for transport with a weekday morning-only congestion charge would be a huge lost opportunity.

The proposed charge is part of a package whose other major (and arguably more important) aspect is an absolutely enormous fund of £500 million to provide a huge range of public transport (bus and train), cycling and walking schemes, plus new and expanded park and rides sites. Such money would be contingent on a charge.

A scheme of two parts: £500 million followed by congestion charging

The Campaign’s Co-ordinator, Martin Lucas-Smith, said:

“Do Cambridgeshire residents really want to throw away £500 million of funding, which would give them genuine, high-quality alternatives to being stuck in traffic queues? This level of funding would totally dwarf current levels of investment. It would be free money on the table from the Government, assuming a bid would be accepted, as seems likely.”

Press Officer, James Woodburn, said:

“The Campaign agrees with the principle of demand management, though there remain many questions to be answered before we can give complete backing. However, we feel the proposals must be seen as part of a much bigger package of public transport, Park & Ride and cycling improvements. We would like to see more press coverage of the other half of the scheme: the proposed half-a-billion pound package of transport investment.”

Jim Chisholm, Liaison Officer, said:

“Many motorists, particularly those coming in from outside Cambridge, would ironically be the biggest winners of this scheme. The improved public transport would get many city-dwellers out of their cars. Public transport users would see huge benefits and the current level of around 25% of commuter journeys by bike would rise.”

Facts and figures

The Campaign is concerned that many of the facts about the proposals have not yet been heard by those currently opposing the scheme:

The charge would be 7.30am-9.30am only, Monday to Friday. So there would be very little effect on people travelling for shopping or leisure.
There are to be another 50,000 houses (perhaps 125,000 people) around Cambridge by 2016 in an attempt to cater for demand and to lower house prices. Those opposing the congestion charge proposals need to suggest how to avoid complete gridlock from such a huge influx of people into the city.
The estimated £30m raised annually from any charge would be ploughed back into local transport provision.
Continental-style cycle provision could be introduced with the sort of money on the table. Making space for cycling in this way has real potential to increase levels of cycling and thus reduce motor traffic.
The 10% level of traffic reduction, even accounting for new residents, that the County Council envisage would be a great benefit to all road users.
The charge would be introduced only from about 2011 once the package of measures has been implemented, so the alternatives would be in place before any charge.

ENDS

PRESS RELEASE: County’s major transport proposals would transform cycling

EMBARGO: 16th July 2007

Cambridge Cycling Campaign warmly welcomes the large package of measures proposed by the County Council for demand management and associated measures in Cambridge.

We are particularly pleased that a significant amount of money is proposed to improve the conditions for those on foot or on bicycle, and that this will occur prior to any congestion charging.

The cycling aspects of the proposals represent a massive step-change in quality standards. For the first time, funding that would enable continental standards would become available.

The fear of speed and volume of motor traffic are the biggest deterrents to people cycling. Quality new routes between areas, improvements to existing routes, and the provision of spacious and protected on-road routes alongside main roads, as well as proposals to fix many cycle-hostile junctions and vastly improve levels of cycle parking, will encourage more people to walk and cycle.

Jim Chisholm, Liaison Officer, Cambridge Cycling Campaign, said:

“It is now over 40 years since the first major Government report on road pricing. In other forms of transport, including local trains and buses, demand is managed by varying the charge. Doing so in congested cities will reduce congestion and hence pollution. If people switch to walking and cycling for shorter journeys, not only will they save money and improve their health, but the road space will be available for those whose trip by motor vehicle is essential.”

Martin Lucas-Smith, Co-ordinator, Cambridge Cycling Campaign said:

“For this to work it will be important for many of the incentives for motorists to switch modes to be available well before charging even starts. We believe there are several schemes which could be implemented relatively quickly, showing commitment by the County, and giving early benefits to those who choose to cycle.”

“The proposals are radical, balanced, necessary, and will benefit everyone by ensuring the future health of Cambridge as a city. The County has heeded our message that increasing levels of cycling requires much more of a focus on quality. The proposals make real space for cycling, rather than just fitting it in or putting cyclists onto pavements.”

Demand management: a congestion charge for Cambridge?