Cambridge for Cyclists - Archive
(King Street to Jesus Lane)
Since at least 1977 until recently this was one way towards Jesus Lane -
appropriately so for a quiet, narrow residential street.
Seemingly at the same time as the City Centre anti-cycle measures were made
permanent (April '95?), a contra-flow cycle lane was added.
If implemented well, this seems reasonable: it would give a suitable north-to-south
route avoiding the central restrictions.
However there were and still are major flaws.
- There is no easy, safe way for cycles to turn right from Jesus Lane into
Malcolm Street (dismounting at the opposite kerb is the best option).
- The cycle lane is bizarre at the King Street end: it swerves to the other side
of the street.
- There used to be a strange bollard arangement at the junction with King St.,
but that's been removed as part of
the changes February-July '96.
- Signposting of the cycle routes is very poor.
For instance, Hobson Street is supposed to be two-way for
cyclists but the No Entry signs at the Malcolm Street junction
don't mention any exception for cyclists.
Instead there's a tiny sign, low down on a wooden post, often obscured
by parked cars, indicating cyclists should pass between the pavement and the post.
The Liberal Democrats have consulted Newnham residents about this plan to ban
parking along Queen's Road, opening up the view of the Backs.
The spaces are mainly used by commuters. Cycle lanes would replace parking spaces.
As proposed, the scheme would start after the Madingley Road
Park-and-Ride
became operational (Jun-96), with concessionary rates for long stay use.
The already heavy cycle traffic along the road will increase with the planned University
developments in West Cambridge.
However the scheme hasn't been taken up.
(CEN 8-Apr-96)
As a trial scheme, the cycle lanes between Long Road and Cherry Hinton Road have been surfaced
bright red to remind motorists that cyclists have priority, particularly at junctions.
Barton Road
City Traffic Managers made a dual pedestrian/cycle path on the south side of Barton Road,
to match the one on the north side (CEN 25-Apr-1996).
This provoked a lot of comment in the Cambridge Evening News about the dangers of dual-use paths.
See also Queen's Road parking ban & cycle lane.
This encourages employers to promote cycling to and from work.
The post of official City cycling promoter was funded by
the Department of Transport, the City & County Councils, the
Cambridge Cycling Campaign, the Cambridge & Huntingdon Health Authority,
the Activity & Health Forum and Cambridge University (CEN 15-Apr-1996).
From September 1997 it was widened to a general "green travel" role - Travel for Work.
County Council engineers asked for suggestions for locations: they had money for racks but didn't know of
any suitable sites (CEN 6-Jun-96).
The Cambridge Cycling Campaign identified 44 new locations,
which would add 400 spaces (CEN 14-Aug-96).
A further round of funding was bid for in 1997/8:
Cambridge Package Bid 1997.
Cambridge
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