Letters

This article was published in 2004, in Newsletter 55.

Letters to the editor are welcome. Send them to the usual Campaign address, but please make it clear that you would like the letter to be published.

Unpleasantly healthy route

I am writing about my experience of cycling at Addenbrooke’s hospital. I was invited to join a friend for a swim at the hospital’s Frank Lee Centre’s swimming pool. I cycled from my home [about a mile away]; the Frank Lee centre is at the back of the hospital site.

Red Cross Lane.
Image as described adjacent

I decided to take the route along side streets, then to skirt the edge of the Concrete Jungle (Addenbrooke’s). Having used the pedestrian crossing over Hills Road, I used Red Cross Lane then Robinson Way, but I could have used the path by the field. It was on Robinson Way that I found I had to trail blaze my way to my destination. I did not feel safe. I could not find any provision for cyclists from Robinson Way. There were road works at Robinson Way, plus a lorry turning. I eventually reached the sports centre via the ground floor of a deserted car park.

Homeward bound, I found a path, but instead of taking me to Robinson Way it petered out! I pushed my bike through another car park. I used the footpath at the field side – lovely and peaceful. First I had to wait at the road works’ traffic lights. Here I felt very intimidated when a bus came, perfectly within its rights, but so wide and potentially lethal, swinging along inches from my body.

Hasn’t a multi-deck car park been built recently at this site? I think some money could be channelled into a path for cyclists and pedestrians, other than a car park, surely?

I was in need of some exercise this morning, and I achieved this. I also needed an easy ride to a swimming pool, for a relief from noise and stress. In Newsletter 53 you published an article: Ten reasons why it is great to cycle. Included are reasons to do with cycling being healthy. I was invited to swim at a club where health workers go, and I feel disappointed at how unpleasant it was cycling to and from the centre. Even though I realise there were numerous road and building works taking place there today.

Diana FitzGerald