Elections

My wife and I cycle everywhere (and don't own a car), and while we feel safe cycling (on most roads), I would not feel the same about younger or older family members cycling alone. I find cars and buses do not leave adequate space when overtaking, and younger and older people may not cycle as defensively as myself. There are many places in Cherry Hinton, and across Cambridge where there is not adequate cycle lane provision, and the roads are not very safe to cycle on.

I fully agree with the points raised in "Making Space for Cycling". For example the new cycle lanes on Hills Road toward the hospital are pleasant to ride along, allowing for faster cyclists to overtake slower cyclists, protecting the cycle path from buses, and having the cycle lane "semi-separated" from the car lanes. Priority green lights for cyclists, such as at the junction of Hills Rd. Regent St and Lensfield Rd (coming from Hills Rd) are also great, and really help keep traffic flowing in a less dangerous fashion. I believe that Queen Edith’s Way would benefit greatly from a separated cycle path. Currently the choice is either to cycle on the road, where several accidents have taken place. or to cycle on the path, which is filled with potholes and where pedestrians get cross at cyclists for using the path. I have also been told that the lack of lighting along this road is discouraging for cyclists, as it feels loo dark to cycle safely (the person who told me this now takes the bus instead).

I agree that policing of all forms of road users should be more of a priority, and that it should be based on the relative levels of danger presented by each group. However, it would seem to be fairly simple for police to crack down on irresponsible cycling (such as cycling without lights, or cycling through red traffic lights) by monitoring busy junctions where cyclists frequently break the rules. If they issued immediate spot fines then I’m sure cyclists would quickly become more rule abiding. As stated before I cycle (or walk) everywhere, and I am infuriated by irresponsible cyclists not stopping at red lights, even on very busy junctions, and while they are unlikely to kill someone by cycling into them, some of them seem very likely to cause an accident between cars on the road, by cycling out in front of them with no regard for safety.
Aside from tackling irresponsible cycling, I would wish to cut down on aggressive road users who overtake when it isn’t safe to do so (e.g. on mill road railway bridge) or who drive very close behind you and behave very impatiently, or those who overtake with very little space. I think one thing that might prove useful here is if offenders were forced to undertake virtual reality training, where they are the cyclist, and a bus/lorry/car overtakes them repeatedly with only a few inches of space. This could educate them in how unsafe this actually feels when you are the one on a bike, and are totally at the mercy of drivers around you. Again, the police could monitor hotspots where dangerous manoeuvres are known to take place frequently, and they should take appropriate action to make sure drivers to not repeat this behaviour.
I fully agree with the proposals that junctions should be made safer, and easier to navigate, to reduce the temptation of cycling through red lights, and cycling on pavements. I also agree that educational projects are a good idea, perhaps colleges could be encouraged to run a seminar for new students about the road rules?

I would suggest free cycle training for children in school so they can learn how to cycle safely. I strongly agree with the idea of a parking/pickup ban within 200m of schools, and this would have the added benefit of reducing the amount of car fumes that children are breathing in. Cycle parking is also a great plan. I also agree with the idea of protected space for cycling, off-road cycle paths are much safer for children than those on the road.

It concerns me that plans are passed that contravene the Local Plan, and I would seek to be available to those with worries about planning applications, and where I agree that the plans don’t agree with the Local Plan I would act to alert those on the planning committee and attempt to correct this.

I would say that Queen Edith’s way is not suitable for non-standard cycles. As stated before it is full of potholes and not suitable for standard cycles, so will definitely not be fit for non-standard cycles. It also frequently has cars parked on it, making dangerous obstructions to the path. I would propose to stop parking along this road, and have a proper segregated cycle path, separate from pedestrians.
The path from the High Street to Yarrow road is not well maintained, and mostly mud, so wouldn’t be suitable for non standard cycles. Also it is not lit, making it less accessible. I would improve maintenance and perhaps put in some lighting (maybe the small lights that are in the pavement, like on midsummer common).
Daws lane is also unsuitable, as it is full of potholes and floods when it rains.

I would aim to consult with interested parties (including Cambridge Cycle Campaign) to get various opinions on what could be done to improve matters. My personal feeling on the matter is that the mini-roundabout at the junction of Mill End Road and the High Street is not very safe for those coming from Mill End Road; as those who should give way to Mill End Road cannot actually see the traffic on Mill End Road well. Removal of the mini-roundabout and replacement with a T-junction with traffic lights would be safer. This could be combined with pedestrian lighting where the zebra crossing currently is, as this makes the junction even more confusing.