Elections
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Question 1 - we asked:
Protected Space on main roads: The County Council have recently consulted on creating protected space on Hills Road and Huntingdon Road. Do you support these schemes? Are there roads in your ward or elsewhere that you would like to see protected space on?
Relevant links (each opens in a new window):
We asked this question in all 14 wards, namely: Abbey, Arbury, Castle, Cherry Hinton, Coleridge, East Chesterton, King's Hedges, Market, Newnham, Petersfield, Queen Edith's, Romsey, Trumpington, West Chesterton.
52 of the 62 candidates (84%) who were asked this question responded as below.
Those candidate(s) which were elected are highlighted.
Sam BARKER (Conservative Party) |
I support good, safe cycle lanes and protected space is a brilliant option where the road is wide enough. Although Having had friends hit by cars on London's cycling super highways, I am concerned that protected lanes on the pavement side can still fail to make junctions safe for cyclists. |
Eric William BARRETT-PAYTON (Conservative Party) |
I support protected spaces on these roads, and on any roads where space permits, in order to provide some added safety for cyclists, and to encourage drivers not to crowd out cyclists |
Alex BOYD (Conservative Party) |
Although these proposed measures do not affect Market Ward directly I welcome the County Council consulting the public on the issue. Should the proposed measures prove to be popular with motorists, cyclists and the public alike while leading to increased safety and reduced danger to cyclists (especially those going to and from schools in this area) then they should be given serious consideration. |
Tom BYRNE (Conservative Party) |
I fully support any scheme across Cambridge that allows cyclists to travel safely, as well as the fact that this will hopefully encourage people to commute on their bikes as opposed to driving. I would welcome protected spaces on main roads throughout Cambridge. |
Timothy James HAIRE (Conservative Party) |
These schemes are essential on some busy roads, particularly at some very busy/dangerous junctions. But as a rule I prefer cyclists to be accommodated as just another road user where this is possible. Over use of schemes such as this risk motorists believeing and behaving as if cyclists have no place on the roads. I don't think there are any roads in Cherry Hinton that would benefit from schemes such as this and I think they should always be looked at on a case by case basis. |
Richard Graham JEFFS (Conservative Party) |
Hills Road, especially the bridge over the railway, could definitely do with changes being made. Perhaps we should wait until the protected spaces have been in use for a while to be able to pick-up on any issues and learn any lessons. |
Daniel Jacob JOHN (Conservative Party) |
Having viewed some of the information on proposed separated cycle lanes, I am generally in favour of the proposal. I have slight concerns about pedestrians crossing the cycle lane and buses causing other traffic to wait behind it. As commented below, I would be keen to see some protection on roads near the new Science Park station. |
Simon LEE (Conservative Party) |
Yes absolutely, there's plenty of scope all over Cambridge to have this sort of scheme or similar. |
Vince MARINO (Conservative Party) |
I do support schemes for safer cycling in Cambridge,east rd,newmarket rd should also look at similar schemes |
Linda YEATMAN (Conservative Party) |
May I make my position absolutely clear at the start. I am in my 70s, and have a husband who has to use a wheelchair all the time, so I look at many of the transport facilities in Cambridge from a different perspective from you, but none the less a valid one. I have lived in Cambridge for 30 years, and for about the first 20 of those years I cycled whenever and wherever I could. But I am aware that while you wish to highlight the needs for cyclists, there are other groups of people who need their transport needs to be considered carefully by those planning how best we use our roads. I am very keen to join any lobby for increased bus services across the city, as this is so important for all those who cannot ride cycles for any number of reasons. And the bus pass for the elderly is very important. To take the questions from your Survey: This is important for cyclists. Petersfield Ward does not include any arterial roads in and out of the city. Mill Road is used by many cyclists, and there are recommended cycle routes to take cyclists away from this congested road, but not more can be done here than is already done, that I can see. |
Sandra BILLINGTON (Green Party) |
It is an excellent idea to have protected space on these two roads. Drivers seem to have a motorway attitude when driving out of Cambridge on Huntingdon Road. I'm not very familiar with Hills Road |
Joel Henry CHALFEN (Green Party) |
PLEASE NOTE: I have only just received this questionnaire. In Queen Edith's, the proposal is for protected space on Hills Road. I am all in favour of improving access and safety for cyclists. Cycling ought to be a healthy and sustainable option and Cambridge, with its culture of cycling, must be a beacon of good practice. If the evidence is there that these measures will achieve better access and safety, then I support it completely. I have been sceptical however on two fronts. Firstly, practical: I cycle this route everyday and rarely if ever have I witnessed an accident. The one place I do see accidents, and often quite serious ones, is on the railway bridge where there are already very clear road-markings. To my mind, it is absolutely vital that road improvements do not confuse or take away from the need for those travelling the roads to communicate with each other. Whilst I am open to being told otherwise, things largely seem to work as things stand on Hills Road. Some of this has to do, I would propose, with the attention cyclists, drivers and pedestrians need to pay each other. Providing better cycle lanes and 'protected spaces' should not distract from this and we should not expect, I would argue, lines and raised edges to protect us by themselves. Secondly, and more importantly really, is the procedure of consultation. Providing leaflets, however glossy, of the architectural options for these improvements is old-fashioned consultation dressed up. For the amount of money and disruption that will no doubt be expended on this project, a proper programme of community engagement ought to be in operation here. A programme that would yield the multiple needs of residents, cyclists, bus drivers, commuters, school and college students and ascertain how people use this route. And to ensure that means introducing a far-reaching change in terms of the democratic processes at the City and Council offices. |
Maximillian FRIES (Green Party) |
I strongly support those schemes because I believe that for far too long our infrastructure has been built with primarily motor traffic in mind. We, as cyclists and citizens, have to stand up to re-balance this relationship, and in the light of climate change, massively support low-carbon transport such as cycling and walking. I especially welcome the public consultations on different options for protected spaces that allow citizens to have their say and get involved in the development of their areas. In my ward, the situation in Lensfield Road appears to me similarly dangerous and worrying as on Hills Road and clearly needs attention from the council. |
Ceri GALLOWAY (Green Party) |
I agree that creating protected space in Hills Road in the areas where there are no segregated cycle paths and I would like to see the left hand lane going towards Addenbrookes to be enhanced by being segregated from motor traffic. Trumpington Ward where I stand would benefit from protected cycle path on the left hand side of Trumpington Road between Brooklands Ave and to the start of the cycle path at the park and ride that leads to the M11. |
Oscar Edward GILLESPIE (Green Party) |
I totally support these schemes and am very pleased by them. I have cycled on routes that have been well-planned, in Brighton and Milton Keynes, and it is a pleasant experience but also avoids congestion and tension between road users. The benefits of such work when weighed against the cost are vast. I would also like to see Milton Road and Newmarket Road given a rethink as there are some bizarre elements on both. |
Julia HARRISON (Green Party) |
I definitely support these schemes. These protected spaces are much better for cyclists and would, I think, encourage people to get out of their cars and onto their bikes. Currently the 'drawn on' cycle lanes which run along busy roads do not feel safe for the cyclist and can create conflict between cyclists and car drivers. |
Matthew John HODGKINSON (Green Party) |
Yes, dedicated space on major roads for cyclists is definitely needed in Cambridge. Uninterrupted journeys and a reduction of conflict with cars and pedestrians would be welcome on these faster roads, and would encourage uptake of cycling for travel to work. Hills Road, at the south of my ward, is ideal for this as it is wide, as is Huntingdon Road. East Road, parts of Newmarket Road (both by my ward), Chesterton Road, Cherry Hinton Road, and Queen's Road are other possibilities. Parts of Milton Road are getting there, but could be improved. |
Stephen Roger LAWRENCE (Green Party) |
Yes - I'd like to see extra bike lanes on Chesterton Lane and Victoria Avenue bridge - particularly on left-hand bends, which are very difficult for other road-users to judge safely, (cars frequently pass too close, unknowingly) |
Peter Harry POPE (Green Party) |
I fully support these schemes. |
Michael Philip POTTER (Green Party) |
As far as I can tell, I do support the Protected Space schemes. Though I have lived in Cambridge many years and when I was younger in Arbury, before North Arbury was built, I would need to spend some time, walking around the Kings Hedges area if elected to know better the case for cyclists and to pick up pointers from local residents. Though I have mainly been a cyclist during my time in Cambridge, I did drive a car whilst I was a carer. Now retired, I rely on public transport and walking. |
Marie-Louise HOLLAND (Independent) |
A scheme which demarcates the cycle lane from the road to improve safety for cyclists along these two main roads is crucial. I am concerned about the junctions which link the cycle route Histon - West Cambridge site (e.g. Carisbrooke - Warwick Road - across Windsor Rd - Oxford Rd - Storey's Way ). At peak times the mix of vehicles with pedestrians and cyclists is dangerous. In all the streets mentioned there is an increase in commuter parking in residential streets which is hazardous for cyclists and pedestrians. The problem is particulary acute in Carisbrooke Rd/Warwick Road and Storey's Way and impedes what was mainly a cycle route. The new junction at Laurence Weaver Road and the cycle provision from Girton to Thornton Road is inadequate as vehicles are generally going too fast on this stretch of road. Radical improvements are needed at the junction of Huntingdon Road/Histon Rd/Victoria Rd/Castle hill section if safety for cyclists is to be improved. This section is generally avoided by cyclists with children as the mix of vehicles, particularly buses and lorries is treacherous. Histon Road is in the adjoining ward of Arbury, but I am concerned about the narrow width of the segregated lane from Carisbrooke Road towards Orchard Park. Despite the 30mph limit, one still feels vunerable as a cyclist. I am particularly concerned by the projecting wheel on the front roadside of the Guided Bus which emerges just at pedal level! |
the dragon fairy PUFFLES (Independent) |
As a regular walker/cyclist/public transport user along Hills Road, the biggest problem/danger I have with the current set up is it not being clear after dark which bit of the pavement is one for cyclists & which is for pedestrians. So anything that makes things much more clearer for all users is welcome. One of the things I would ***love*** to explore at a city-wide community action event is getting lots of people together (perhaps working with schools and colleges) to get lots of ideas where new/enhanced cycling corridors could be. Then have them properly road-marked, signed and publicised. Personally I'd like to see traffic lights rather than a roundabout at the Cherry Hinton Road/Perne Road junction. I've always hated that roundabout as a cyclist. |
Ian TYES (Independent) |
Yes. These two roads are wide enough for cycle lanes to be protected from the main carriageway. Much of the road space is currently wasted anyway and could be better used. There are too many junctions with right turns along these roads and I would propose banning most right turns into minor roads along the whole town stretch to make them safer. In Kings Hedges the roads are not really wide enough to create the safe space, but as part of a network of connected and signed cycle routes, i would like to see protected space taken partly from the pavements as well as alongside some of the footpaths off road. |
Dave BAIGENT (Labour Party) |
I completed the consultation to support these spaces and they are an important part of the jigsaw. |
John BERESFORD (Labour Party) |
Yes, good idea. |
Lewis HERBERT (Labour Party) |
My views on this and other issues are also in Richard Taylor’s film of the Cycling Campaign hustings. I support protected space for cyclists and want to see more protected space on main roads where roads are wide enough. |
Russ MCPHERSON (Labour Party) |
Yes, I do support the idea of them; however they need to link up with a whole network of protected spaces across the city - or they will simply end at a given point so what then? The Hills Road scheme is a point to refer to - what happens at the end point? it needs to be linked up to a network. But the idea is a good start, we hope it continues. Cherry Hinton High Street is not a good place for cycling - the road is poorly laid-out for such making cyclist use the pavment far to much causing a problem both for them and everyone else who needs to walk on the pavment; loads of conflict on a daily basis on this one. Hopefully the future funding in will help resolve this issue. |
Charlotte PERRY (Labour Party) |
Protected space for cyclists is valuable in terms of preventing accidents and encouraging more people to cycle on the road. Huntingdon Road and Hills Road have space for these schemes and so I fully support them. |
Dan RATCLIFFE (Labour Party) |
I support the schemes for Hills Road and Huntingdon Road particularly as they are wide roads (especially compared to many in the city centre) and traffic can often be particularly quick. I think care must be taken to avoid conflict between all different road users and so am glad to see that the cycle route past "floating" bus stops contain measures to reduce the potential risk of high-speed collisions with pedestrians alighting busses which could be dangerous for both cyclist and pedestrian! This scheme will also reduce the potential for and fear of collisions on pavements, a major concern for many local residents. |
Mark A READER (Labour Party) |
As someone who cycles every day, and drives with ZIPCAR, I fully support schemes that provide protected space for cyclists and I would like to see more across the city, WHERE ROADS ARE WIDE ENOUGH. Because, from what I am told, such schemes work very well in Bristol and the Netherlands (and likely in Denmark and Sweden too) - I supported the Huntingdon Road scheme. The duty of County officers is to improve transport, and so I think they will consider the evidence and propose real improvements. Owing to accidents and elderly persons I have spoken to - who are greatly bothered by cyclists on the Huntingdon Road pavements - this will most likely be a positive development (imho). But if it fails, we should learn from our mistake and move to more effective options. |
Peter ROBERTS (Labour Party) |
Yes. I fully support the ‘protected space’ scheme on Hills Road and Huntingdon Road. A few years ago, when I lived on nearby Hartington Grove, it was clear that improvements needed to be considered for cyclists. In reference to roads in or nearby to my ward, I believe that a great deal more needs to be done to improve the Newmarket/East Road corridors into and out of the city centre. It’s quite clear that the current state of affairs along Newmarket Road needs a rethink. I also worry about the state of the Riverside channel, a clear gateway into town for those on foot, bike or boat, but one in need of drastic improvement for all concerned. |
Richard ROBERTSON (Labour Party) |
The basic concept is admirable and very welcome as it gives clear guidance to vehicles as to where they should be as well as enabling cyclists to have confidence in their road positioning. Hopefully it will clarify for drivers on side roads that they should give way to cyclists on the main road. It will certainly improve sight-lines for vehicles exiting side roads. Although I support the idea of helping cyclists pass stationary buses safely there seem to be some problems with the island concept. If ways can be found to protect pedestrians exiting and accessing buses this idea too I would support. Petersfield has no roads of sufficient width to allow for protected space within the ward though a survey should be made of Gonville Place and East Road on the border of the ward to see what might be possible. |
Mike SARGEANT (Labour Party) |
My preference is for high quality standard provision across the city. There are too many different standards which confuses, cyclists, motorists and pedestrians. Gilbert Road layout would be my minimum standard for on road for instance. |
Peter SARRIS (Labour Party) |
Yes I fully support these schemes and would like to see more of them introduced where roads are wide enough. I would consult with residents and stakeholders on options in East Chesterton |
Ann SINNOTT (Labour Party) |
I am fully in support of protected space on main roads that are wide enough. I only feel secure cycling on a main road where there is protected space and often dismount and walk my bike when a cycling lane is absent. Safety measures for cyclists are also needed at busy junctions. Labour councillors will press the county council for a new ‘City Centre Transport Strategy’ and the use of City Deal funds to resolve the currently competing needs of road users and pedestrians – in the city, through the city and on routes into the city. Public transport improvements are essential to reduce car usage and ease congestion in the city. The proposed plan for Hills Rd is novel and interesting; that passengers would have to walk across the cycling lane to mount a bus could well be problematic. |
Martin SMART (Labour Party) |
Yes, fully support these protected space for cyclist schemes and would like to see more across the city where roads are wide enough. Hills Road and Huntingdon Road are fortunate to be quite wide roads compared to many of the road in Cambridge and have the space to accommodate protected routes for cyclists. Cherry Hinton Road is an obvious candidate for having a protected space route for cyclists as it is heavily used by commuter cyclists in particular. The junctions along the route also need to be made safer for cyclists, particularly at the Perne Road roundabout and the Robin Hood pub.) East Road to Newmarket Road also needs radical re-engineering with extensive protected space and routes for cyclists. In Kings Hedges Ward, Milton Road and Kings Hedges Road are wider and may be able to provide protected cycling spaces. However, there are also problems with smaller roads, for example St Kilda, where the road is narrow, but the pavement is narrow too and cyclists are unwelcome, so caught between a rock and a hard place. Space for cyclists needs to be addressed on all routes to encourage bicycle usage in a safe and enjoyable way. |
Tim SYKES (Labour Party) |
Cambridge is a cycling city and therefore it is important to ensure the safety of cyclists. I would like to see more safety features in place around the city as there are some particularly narrow roads. The main route from Trumpington in Cambridge is quite a busy road and it already has a dedicated bus lane that cyclists can use. However this is not the care in other parts of the city and more needs to be done in future. One of the problems though is space in the city already. |
Sam WOLFE (Labour Party) |
I wholeheartedly support protected cycle routes and believe that these not only benefit cyclists but also pedestrians. Residents of all ages alongside students are often put off cycling by the thought of navigating busy roads and dedicated cycle-ways would encourage these more hesitant cycle-users to leave the car at home. More thought needs to be given in Newnham to how protected cycle-ways link at junctions. Although we are lucky to have some (but not enough) protected space on Grange Road and Barton Road, the junctions between the routes are often unsafe for both pedestrians and cyclists. I would also like to see funding prioritised for a physical curb-like barrier between protected space and the road. |
Donald Marshall ADEY (Liberal Democrat) |
Support. When I was a County, City, and District Cllr before I always strongly supported cycle promotion. |
Ysanne Margaret AUSTIN (Liberal Democrat) |
Yes I support those schemes. Making our roads safer is a priority. As a cyclist, pedestrian and car user I appreciate we need to respect each other when moving about the city. Where space allows separated areas for each mode of transport is the most effective and clear red cycle lanes make it instantly recognisable. Two dangers to cyclists are when they share space with buses or lorries and when they are in areas where the traffic travels at speed. There are roads in West Chesterton which would benefit from protected space such as, Chesterton Road and Victoria Road and stretches of Milton Road should be improved. |
Nicholas Brian AVERY (Liberal Democrat) |
As a general principle I support the separation to the maximum extent practical of motor traffic from cycling, and of cyclists from pedestrians. Establishing clear and direct routes for safe and efficient cycling into the centre of Cambridge makes obvious sense. For Trumpington, the main routes are Hills Road and Trumpington Road with significant cross traffic along Long Road and Brooklands Avenue. Obviously there are proposals for Hills Road but all these routes need to be improved, especially where they intersect; there seems very little point in creating a new cycling super-highway that comes to an abrupt stop and simply deposits a great number of cyclists at a difficult intersection, such as the Trumpington Road/Fen Causeway/Lensfield Road mini-roundabouts. I would like to see proposals for each of these roads that recognizes that each is a significant cycle route but also is important for pedestrians and that drivers of motor vehicles have a legitimate right to be there also, especially residents needing to access their driveways. Having established these spaces, it will be important that they are respected and, at the same time, that everyone remembers that there will be points where they intersect. Speed is a relevant consideration here – not just in determining the outcome of any accident but also in the various road/path user’s experience of his/her journey. Creating dedicated space is part of the solution we need – but the overriding consideration must be for each of us to ensure that we are not selfish in our use of the road/path. Of course, the other main route into the city centre from Trumpington is to cycle beside the guided busway. Lighting this route will help to take pressure off the other routes in the winter months and developing other routes on disused rail lines – most notably the Chisholm Trail – ought to be a priority. |
Fergus BLAIR (Liberal Democrat) |
I think protected space on main roads is an excellent idea – provided, of course, that local residents are properly consulted about its implementation. Huntingdon Road is obviously the key area in Castle that this applies to. I think, however, that the current plans under discussion do not go far enough. At the moment, the County Council is considering a raised cycle lane that would stretch from the South end of Huntingdon Road up to Oxford Road, but, as many local residents have pointed out, the most dangerous part of the road for cyclists is the North end – and I think the plans should take this into account. |
Sarah Elizabeth BROWN (Liberal Democrat) |
I support these schemes, There are no major roads in my ward wide enough to support protected space, apart the roads at the periphery (Hills Road, Newmarket Road, East Road), where I would support protected space. I think roads such as Fen Causeway and Trumpington Road, as well as other key ring road routes have sufficient space to implement schemes like this, and would support them going forward. |
Rod CANTRILL (Liberal Democrat) |
I do support these schemes. I see them as a step change in encouraging more residents to take up cycling across the city. I would support exploring protected space on major roads in my ward such as Grange Road, Barton Road and Madingley Road (in addition to the cycle provision already in place). In addition, I would welcome measures on Sidgwick Avenue that is heavily used by students (this could be part of the cycle route from West Cambridge to the city centre). |
Keith EDKINS (Liberal Democrat) |
I welcome schemes to make cycling more convenient and safe, but they must be carefully designed to avoid conflicts between cyclists and bus passengers. For instance the area around bus stops must be well-lit. I would like to see improvements on Coldham's Lane where the off-carriageway option is at present a rather narrow footpath where cycling conflicts with pedestrians and bus stops. |
Tim MOORE (Liberal Democrat) |
Separating motor vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians creates a safer, less collision prone, environment for all. The outcome of any collision is likely to have less severe consequences. I am very much in favour of providing good cycling and pedestrian routes, most especially on trunk roads into the city such as Hills Road, and on routes to schools and colleges. I remain a little concerned about cyclists recognising that some of the pedestrians crossing the cycle paths are disabled so cannot move fast, see well or hear warnings, and so would be in favour of clearly signing and marking these points, especially at floating bus stops. I look forward to joined up route based planning, with special attention paid to accident hot spots so that, for example, it is safer to cycle to school (Hills Rd, Long Road) crossing the dangerous junctions at Addenbrooke’s, Long Road/Queen Edith’s Way, Cherry Hinton Road/Hills Road and the railway bridge. |
Zoe O'CONNELL (Liberal Democrat) |
My answer to question 2 (Preferring to completely separate motor and cycle/pedestrian traffic) is relevant here, but there are a number of areas in the ward that would benefit more from protected space. In particular, Green End Road is wide enough to warrant a complete redesign especially the section from the Nuffield Road roundabout to Milton Road. We’ve submitted proposals to the County S106 process, and Ian Manning, the Liberal Democrat County Councillor for East Chesterton, is investigating whether these proposals can be funded via the station project. |
Colin Richard ROSENSTIEL (Liberal Democrat) |
I can't see any cases in the city centre which Market Ward largely comprises though I would like more measures to persuade motorists to leave space by kerbs for cycling, mainly by adding advisory cycle lanes, e.g. on Gonville Place northbound |
Paul Stuart SAUNDERS (Liberal Democrat) |
Yes, I support these where there is adequate space.The challenge in Cambridge is that so few roads are wide enough. Whenever major road projects are envisaged I would like to see a real examination of the space allocated to motor, cycle and pedestrians. Too often in the past the solution has been mixing bike and foot traffic as a quick fix. In Romsey the only roads I'd imagine being suitable for consideration are Perne Road, Brooks Road, perhaps Coldham's Lane. However they are not without their issues. |
Neale UPSTONE (Liberal Democrat) |
I'd prefer to see protected space on far more roads. In Kings Hedges and roads used by residents, there are a number of roads with high cycle traffic where the cycle provision needs the same sort of step-change as proposed for Hills Road and Huntingdon Road. We need consistent schemes, not the sort of mixed/ambiguous priorities which in my opinion are a danger. Milton Road has recently seen a tragic accident, and is a road where there are numerous different cycle 'provisions' (sharing with pedestrians, sharing with buses and taxis, MCL. We need a masterplan of transformation to take however long it takes, and for that to include the potential for tunnelled roads (e.g. smaller scale versions of http://www.arcadis.com/Projects/Tunnelling_and_area_development_A2_motorway_Maastricht.aspx) as part of a long term plan. There is not a problem of finance, just the way that we in the UK finance infrastructure. |
Tim WARD (Liberal Democrat) |
In principle I support schemes which allocate limited road space to sustainable modes first (so walking and cycling first, then public transport, and finally the private car) where this can be done in a suitably balanced manner. I support the Hills Road and Huntingdon Road schemes but do not yet have a view on the details of the particular options, preferring to await the analysis of the consultation responses. |
Peter BURKINSHAW (UK Independence Party) |
No, no |
Camcycle is a non-partisan body. All candidates are given an equal opportunity to submit their views. Information published by Camcycle (Cambridge Cycling Campaign), The Bike Depot, 140 Cowley Road, Cambridge, CB4 0DL.