Add your name to our open letter
29 April 2020
Let’s work together to ensure safe walking and cycling in the Cambridge region during the COVID-19 lockdown and into the future.
- People who need to cycle to, or for, work, including healthcare workers, cycle couriers and key workers must be able to stay safe during and after the lockdown period.
- People who need to travel for essential journeys, such as picking up groceries or delivering medicine to vulnerable neighbours, must have the space they need to do this safely while protecting themselves and others.
- People who are taking daily exercise for the benefit of their physical and mental health should be able to enjoy this time without the worry of struggling to stay a safe distance from others on popular routes.
- Ensuring safe space for walking and cycling will crucially reduce the burden on the NHS by decreasing the spread of coronavirus and the likelihood of road traffic injuries, and benefiting physical and mental health through greater physical activity, cleaner air and allowing time outdoors while still physically distancing.
- We must be prepared for when the lockdown measures will begin to ease. People will be reluctant to use public transport and without alternatives in place, we risk increased levels of private car use leading to more air pollution and road danger. Cambridge will grind to a halt with even a slight increase in car traffic from pre-lockdown levels, which will hurt our recovery.
Cambridge should be a global leader. Let’s be inspired by other cities like Bogotá, Berlin, Milan and Oakland and start living up to our title of the cycling capital of the UK. As one of the world’s leading centre’s for science, health and technology, Cambridge will play an important role in helping the world recover from this pandemic and we must ensure our city and transport networks are ready.
We ask our decision-makers to make quick and affordable interventions under Part V of the Highways Act 1980 or by using experimental traffic regulation orders. Paint, planters, traffic cones and water-filled barriers can enable fast implementation. Communications programmes and enforcement of traffic laws must also play a part. Decision-makers must act to keep people safe by:
- Adding filters – Stopping through motor-traffic to reduce traffic and make walking and cycling journeys safer while providing more space to spread out.
- Reusing road space – Convert road traffic lanes and/or parking and loading bays into space for cycling and walking.
- Removing anti-pedestrian railings – Such railings are now known to harm pedestrian safety and they reduce space available for pedestrians making it difficult to maintain physical distance. Removing them will provide more space and improve safety for cycling and walking.
- Widening cycle lanes – Narrow on-road cycle lanes encourage close passing from drivers and make cycling feel less safe. Cycle lanes should be made wide enough to ensure a safe distance between people cycling and passing car traffic.
- Improving wayfinding – Helping people find new and safe cycle and walking routes will direct them away from congested areas. People new to cycling will also feel more confident if they can easily follow safe routes.
- Enforcing speed limits – With lower levels of car traffic, speeding has become a significant problem which is putting people in danger and making them wary of cycling. Road safety must be improved through stronger communications from the police about driving safely and within the speed limit along with enforcement action. Simple changes to road design such as the removal of centrelines can also encourage lower speeds.
- Redesigning junctions – Improve safety by tightening geometry at junctions, ensuring motor traffic travels at slower speeds and pedestrians have less distance to travel when crossing. This will also provide more waiting space at crossings and more space for walking and cycling on the road.
- Implementing communications and behaviour change programmes – Local authorities can encourage less driving through positive communications about walking and cycling and resources such as grants or cycle donation programmes to ensure everyone can access a cycle.
Further information and evidence can be found on the Camcycle website along with specific locations and recommended changes. www.camcycle.org.uk/spacestobreathe
This crisis has shown how quickly we can act as a society when facing a threat to our lives. We must act with the same haste now to improve our transport system as this too will save lives.
We call on our decision-makers, particularly at Cambridgeshire County Council, to take urgent steps to ensure we have safe networks and infrastructure for walking and cycling so that people can make essential journeys and get their vital exercise as safely as possible now and when our city reopens.
Signatories:
Business community
| Max Bautin – Managing Partner – IQ Capital
Anne Beamish – Founder – Indie Cambridge Andrew Bell David Braben Astra Carter-Marsh – Partner – Three Cups Jewellery, Ely David Cleevely – Entrepreneur Eleanor Cook Anthony Dean – Director – Cambridge Bike Tours Ian de Massini – Courier cyclist with “Zedify” Tim Drye – Managing Director – DataTalk Norman Evanson Robin Forder Toby Gomersall – Director – SmartAcoustics Mike Gough – Business Owner/Mechanic – Roadies Cycles (Workshop & Bicycle Specialist) Colin Gravill – Microsoft Research Douglas Higgins – Project Director – First Base Gail Hoban – Director – GAS Studio Faye Holland – Founder – cofinitive Ltd Spike Jackson – Managing Director – Sage Exteriors Ltd Rob King – CEO – Zedify Jill Laughlin – Travel for Work Lead – ARM Ruairi Mackenzie |
Andy McClelland – Chief Engineer – Cambeam System Design
Jill McCulloch – Business Coach – Coach You Robin Message – Company director Jeremy Peters Ruth Queen – Head of HR – Cambridge Enterprise Alex Raha – Business Manager – CamkolInov Mark Richards – Partner – studio24architects LLP Ellie Russell Robert Sansom – Business Angel Simon Thorpe – Managing Partner Delta2020 George Vardulakis – Director – Halkyon Consulting Ltd Charles Wartnaby – CEO – Fusinity Ltd Matt Whiting – CTO – Cambridge Enterprise Natacha Wilson – Director – Cambridge Insights Wookey – ARM Bicycle User Group |
Community organisations
| Tim Arnold – Harston Residents’ Group
Steve Blackburn – Resident – RedCross Areas Residents Association Tom Bragg – Trustee – Cambridge Carbon Footprint Lu Collier – Co ordinator – RedCross Areas Residents Association Ian Cooper – Vice Chair – Arbury Road East Residents’ Association Patricia Dalby – Director – Alliance Francaise Cambridge Diane Docherty – Chief Executive – Emmaus Cambridge Extinction Rebellion Cambridge Extinction Rebellion Youth Cambridge Henry Gomersall – Director – SmartAcoustics Margaret Fernie – Joint Secretary – A.R.E.R.A. Arbury Road East Residents Association Mark Freeman – CEO – Cambridge Council for Voluntary Service Anne Hamill – Committee member – Milton Road Residents’ Association Ingrid Horgan – Supporter – Red Cross Areas Residents Association Alex Hughes – Church James Littlewood – Chief Executive – Cambridge Past, Present & Future |
Andrew Milbourn – Chair – Hurst Park Estate Residents’ Association
Anne Miller – Chair – Carbon Neutral Cambridge Charles Nisbet – Chair – Milton Road Residents’ Association Michael Page – former Chair – Hurst Park Estate Residents’ Association Nicola Terry – Secretary – Transition Cambridge Ian Ralls – Campaigner – Cambridge Friends of the Earth Paul Robison – CEO – The Bikeability Trust, National charity with base in Cambridge Lilian Rundblad – Chair – Histon Road Area Residents’ Association Marilyn Smith – Chair – Arbury Road East Resident’s Association Dan Strauss – Save Your Cycle Route K Thomas – Wildlife planting conservation, horticulturist Kevin Walshe – Project Lead – Owl Bikes Frances Wright – Cambridge Cohousing |
Councillors, politicians, political parties
| Daniel Zeichner – MP, Cambridge
Philip Allen – District Councillor, Harston & Comberton ward – South Cambs District Council David Ambrose Smith – County, District & Parish Councillor, Littleport Barbara Ashwood – County Councillor, Trumpington Dave Baigent – City Councillor, Romsey – Cambridge Simon Bywater – Chairman CYP Committee Cambs County Council – Cambs County Councillor Sawtry & Stilton Tim Bick – City Council, Market – Cambridge Rod Cantrill – City Councillor, Newnham – Cambridge Greg Chadwick – City Councillor, Castle – Cambridge Victoria Charlesworth – District Cllr – East Cambs District Council Cllr Steve Corney – Mayor of Ramsey, Ramsey Town Councillor, HDC Councillor Cllr Lorna Dupre – Councillor, Sutton (Ely) – Cambridgeshire County Council (Liberal Democrats) Stephen Ferguson – Mayor of St Neots – St Neots Town Council Nichola Harrison – County Councillor, Market Lewis Herbert – Leader of Cambridge City Council – Coleridge, City Councillor Pippa Heylings – Cllr – South Cambs District Council John Hipkin – City Councillor, Castle – Cambridge Nick Hollinghurst – Hertfordshire County Councillor Chris Howell – Former City Councillor – Personal Response Veronica Hufford – Huntingdon Town Councillor Julian Huppert – Former MP, Cambridge Linda Jones – County Councillor, Petersfield |
Cllr Patrick Kadewere – District Councillor – Huntingdonshire Community Group
Ian Manning – County Councillor, West Chesterton Josh Matthews – City Councillor, Newnham – Cambridge Dr Anthony Martinelli – City Councillor, Market – Cambridge Stephen McAdam – Mayor of Huntingdon Jacquie McBride – Parish Councillor – Barrington Colin McGerty – City Councillor, Queen Edith’s – Cambridge John Morris – District Councillor, Brampton & Hinchingbrooke – Huntingdonshire District Council Lucy Nethsingha – County Councillor, Newnham Jonathan Pallant – Town Mayor of St Ives – St Ives Town Council Cheney Payne – City Councillor, Castle – Cambridge Katie Porrer – City Councillor, Market – Cambridge Claire Richards – County Councillor, Castle Cllr Richard Robertson – City Councillor – Petersfield Tom Sanderson – Councillor Mike Sargeant- Deputy Leader Cambridge City Council – West Chesterton, City Councillor Dr Jocelynne Scutt – County Councillor, Arbury Michael Todd-Jones – City Councillor, Arbury – Cambridge Damien Tunnacliffe – City Councillor, West Chesterton – Cambridge Susan van de Ven – County Councillor, Melbourn and Bassingbourn Councillor Richard West, Huntingdonshire District Council – Chairman Huntingdonshire District Council – Great Paxton ward Huntingdonshire District Council
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Doctors and public health practitioners
| Mark Abbas – GP
Tom Adams – Junior Doctor Richard Baird – Hospital Doctor Dr Kate Baker – Programme Leader and Honorary Consultant Martin Becker – Consultant Paediatrician Amanda Buckingham – PhD Student Harry Bulstrode – Clinical Lecturer Melody Clark Patrick Clark Petrus Fourie – Consultant Anaesthetist – Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Dr Emily Gomersall – Doctor, GP – Lensfield Medical Practice Andrew Graham – Consultant Neurologist – Personal capacity Simon Griffin – GP Dr John Hall – Research doctor Brian Hendrich Sarah Hopkins – Geriatric Doctor – Addenbrooke’s Hospital Dr Nik Johnson – Consultant Paediatrician – North West Anglia NHS Trust Amelie Kirchgaessner Alex La Frenais – Research Assistant – MRC Suzie Loveday – CEO – Cambridge Counselling Neil Mack – Physician |
Willa McDonald – GP – Lensfield Medical Practice
Will McEwan – Scientist Dr Catherine J Merrick – University Senior Lecturer Richard Merrick – Public Health registrar Jim O’Sullivan – Nurse Richard Patterson Andrew Perrett – GP John Powell MBChB Dr Victoria Ramsden – GP Registrar Sean Rock Dr James Smith – GP Marilyn Smith – Ex researcher/practice teacher community health Tabitha Smith – retired doctor Dr Martin Stefan – Psychiatrist Dolly Theis – Student Kevin Varty – Retired Doctor Richard Wakeford – Proprietor – Cambridge Assessment and Quality Assurance Associates Antony Warren – Doctor Philip Wigglesworth – Director Eleanor Winpenny
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Key workers
| Eleanor Blair
Harry Bullivant – Consultant – TTP Alice Clarkson Catriona Cole Patrick Davies Ian de Massini Lynne Hamilton |
Gary Howell Phil Garrett Mary Jane O’Sullivan Catherine Thompson Simon Warnes – Engineer Ian Webb – Operations Manager Heather Yeadon
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Parents of young children
| Sian Alexander
Catherine Aman Valerie Ashton Richard Baird – father of 4 Jeremy Baumberg Felicity Baynes Emilia Benjamin G S Bennett Zachary Bergman Rosanna Bienzobas Tina Bollerslev – Teacher, parent, community enthusiast – my family and friends Tilman Bregler Edward Briffa Anthony Brown Amy Burbidge – Buckden parish councillor Jim Butler James Cooke John Constable Hilary Costello Jonathan Cribb Russell Dunn Alec Edgington Roos Eichenberger – Global Health Research Manager – Personal response Neil Ferguson Kate Fry Felix Sanchez Garcia Naomi Griffiths Lisa Hall Sarah Harbour Hatem Helal Alison Hoare James Hobro Stephen Hodgson – Parent Grandparent Cyclist – Hunts Walking & Cycling Group Neil Howie Chris Hughes Tim Hughes Dickon Humphrey R. Humphrey Karsten Koehler Shani Lee Tracey-Lee |
Blair Martin – Graduate Student – Cambridge University
Dermot McGinnity Tom McKeown Jacquie Mercer Amy Merrick Sally Milligan Sophie Mitchell Berry Mulligan Helen Mulligan Vincent Murray Jerome Neufeld Fiona Ogden Francesca Raphaely Ingold Jo Rees Rich Rippin Charlotte Roberts Peter Robinson Karen Rodgers Mark Rogers – Sentinel Projects Michael Sanders Sarah Strickland Tom Stroud Tom Sutch Sarah Swire Laila Tims Nicolas Vanelslande James Vause Joe Vervaeke Tim Waller Kieran Walsh R. Westley – University of Cambridge Anna Williams Matthew Williams Clare Wilson Elspeth Wilson Pete Wilson Georgia Powell
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Teachers and education sector
| Rhona Armour – Senior Manager – Cambridge Assessment
Neil Arnold Joshua Blanchard Lewis – Affiliated lecturer, tutor Anthony Bowen – Retired teacher and councillor Joanne Bradley – Teacher Andrew Caines – Senior Research Associate – University of Cambridge Robert Coe – Owner – EnglishINcambridge Julian Constable – Lecturer Margaret Cranmer Michael Crisp Susan Day Helen East Sarah Elsegood Paul Evans Anna Gannon Tim Gent – Governor, Waterbeach Community Primary School – Waterbeach Community Primary School Philip Gibbard – emeritus professor Christine Green William Hale Sara Hennessy – Reader – University of Cambridge Richard Jennings – Director of Studies, Supervisor – University of Cambridge Neil Jones – University lecturer H Judge Siobhan Lyons – Teacher – Lyons Languages |
Darren Macey
Dorottya Nemes – School teacher David Newbery – Director Energy Policy Research Group U of Cambridge Clare Sansom David Secher – Retired Trudi Tate Matthew Tennant Lisa Tuohy – Headteacher – ACE Nursery School RAD Wagon – Cycle Instructor – RAD Wagon Wheelers Bronwen Walter – Emerita professor – Anglia Ruskin University Marjolein Wytzes
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Transport professionals and organisations
| Matthew Barber – Head of Partnerships – Sustrans
Vikki Beale – BDM – Breeze… British cycling Paul Bearpark – Chairman – Waterbeach Cycling Campaign – Waterbeach Cycling Campaign Robin Clarke Ian Cray – Member – Cambridge CleanWheels Roxanne De Beaux – Executive Director – Camcycle Ian Driver – A 10 cycle campaign webmaster and committee member – A10 corridor cycle campaign Royston to Cambridge Stephen Hodgson – Chairman – Hunts Walking & Cycling Group Eddie Kehoe – Director – The Electric Transport Shop Ltd Stephen Kidson Edward Leigh – Leader – Smarter Cambridge Transport Sam Livingstone – Director – Car Design Research |
Kieron McNab – Managing Director – Outspoken Training
Sean McSweeney – Ely Cycling Campaign Sean Moroney – CEO – Cambridge Electric Transport Michele Piu Simon Roberts – Safety Management specialist – Safety Management International Hugh Salt – Company Director – Cambridge Dutchbikes Mark Searle – General Manager – Outspoken Cycles John Seton – Secretary – CTC Cambridge – Part of Cycling UK Mike Stapleton – Cycling UK Campaigner – Cycling UK Phil Walker – Administrative – Huntingdonshire Walking and Cycling Campaign Group
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Supporters
| Alan Ackroyd
David Andrew David Baker Carol Barker Beth Barker John Barker Colin Batchelor Rachael Beale Stephen Biddle – Retired NHS Katie Birkwood Imogene Blackburn-Horgan Kate Boursnell Annabel Bradford Andy Brown Hannah Brown Vivienne Brown Paul Browne Judy Brunton Tim Brunton Pieter Bruyninckx Anthony Bullock Tim Burford Richard Burgess Matthew Burling Audrey Burns – Associate Programme Officer – UNEP-WCMC Valerio Chang Hugh Chapman Jim Chisholm Anne Clarke Sue Clements – Bikeability instructor Tim Cole Stephen Conrad George Coombs Paul Cowell Ben Connor Ian Cooper Kenneth Coutts – Retired lecturer Martin Cove Nathan Crilly Helen Cross Matthew Danish Mike Davies Rupert Dick Stefan Dixon Colin Doak Chris Dorling Shona Douglas Ian Driver David Dyer David Earl Sue Edwards Andrew Eltis Anthony Evershed Steve Fagg Anke Friedrich Monica Frisch Michal Gabrielczyk Chiara Gardner Emma Garnett – PhD Researcher – University of Cambridge Nick Gellatly – Spare Tyres Cycling Club Harriet Gillett – Cambridge Resident for 34 years Elaine Gillingham Paula Goddard Andrew Gordon Dani Grant Richard Gray Jonathan Griffiths Jill Grimshaw J Fairbairn Colin Farr – Research Assistant / Study Coordinator Silvia Ferdin Simon FitzMaurice Henry Fletcher – Engineer Richard Folley Alan Fournier David Gant – Retired schoolteacher Jean Glasberg Rachel Hall Rebecca Hall Ros Hathorn James Hems Robin Heydon Julian Hickling Susan Holland Bart Hommels Ben Horton Chris Houghton Peter Hutchison Stephanie Hyland Marko Hyvonen Liz Irvin – Arbury resident Hilary Jackson John Jackson Richard Jennings – University Teacher G Jones Natalie Jones Tess Jones Joshua Stefan Kaye Andy Kennedy Finlay Knops-Mckim Anne-Laure Lacour
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Alexandra Lanes
Mrs Anna Langley Derek Langley Jenny Langley Jackie Leonard Paul Lewis Stephen Lewis K Li Clio Lloyd-Jacob Marcus Lugg Philip Lund Rosalind Lund Christina Lynch Paul Lythgoe Maureen Mace Dominic Mahony Nicola M Marrian Frances Marsh Robert MacDonald – Senior Water Resource Planner Robert McCubbin – Little Wilbraham resident David McLean Ruth McGuinness Sean McSweeney Julius Mex Andrew Milbourn Riaz Moola Beth Morgan Gareth Morgan Ines Moskal Richard Moss David Newton Simon Nuttall Sebastian Palmer Cathy Parker Elizabeth Parkin Lori Passmore Kerri Pereira Vivien Perutz Maria Pooley Simon Poppy Marco Prain – Pro-Cyclist Claire Preston Ben Price Christoph Puethe Sophia Pugsley Sebastian Rammensee Judith Rattenbury Joanna Raskin Teresa Saez Nick Salter Maartje Scheltens John Shead Catherine Smart Alex Smiles Graham Spelman Tamsin Spelman Richard Spencer Catherine Squire Lauren Stabler Ron Stobbart Aldabra Stoddart Alistair Storer Nick Tankard Edward Taylor E.A. Theokritoff Katharine Thoday Ms Lily Tomson Lynn Travis Mark Troll – Research Scientist Claire Turner Hugo Tyson Chloe Underdown – Civil Engineer Clare Waldron Nicky Webb Jean Whitaker Bruce White Ian White Steven Williams Martin Willitts Sue Woodsford – Cambridge City Amnesty International
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