Hills Road North Sixth Form College
Not much information yet, but Hills Road Sixth Form College are hoping to create a second base to the north/east.
Issues
This section lists issues - problems on the street network and related matters.
Issues always relate to some geographical location, whether very local or perhaps city-wide.
You can create a new issue using the button on the right.
Listed issues, most recent first, limited to the area of Cyclenation:
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Planning application : 23/00872/REM Plaza adjacent to proposed primary school
Plaza adjacent to proposed primary school on key phase 1
Waterbeach Barracks Key Phase 1 Primary School Plaza Denny End Road Waterbeach Cambridgeshire CB25 9PA
South Cambridgeshire
Application reference : 23/00872/REM
I haven't spotted whatever it is that is supposed to provide "access for picking up and dropping off pupils". There seems to be a 5-Sheffield toastrack ("exact product TBC") on what looks like the 'drive' (next to 'He' which means heritage surface coarse asphalt). I do not see anything that would encourage use of Bakfiets etc.
Image is a crop from LANDSCAPE GENERAL ARRANGEMENT PLAN
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Social Media Hostility
I have noticed that especially since the congestion charge there has been a lot of aggression towards Camcycle in social media comments. Notably on Facebook, Nextdoor, etc. I am aware that angry aggressive people have always been on the internet but I do feel the level has increased since congestion charge notoriety, with many people's opinions degenerating into conspiracy theories about Camcycle and the council.
I do worry about the effect this can have on increasing "us vs them" mentality and increasing aggressive behaviour towards cyclists on the road.
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22/05018/REM - land to the west of Cherry Hinton Road/ Airport Way
We might need to look at the road layout proposed here.
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Blockage on Horningsea Greenway in Fen Ditton
Works on the Greenway on east side of the Horningsea Road. No provision for cyclists to pass safely. Only option is to cross at previous pedestrian crossings, though there is no signage to indicate this.
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Lincoln's lane car park crossing
Improvements required for safe crossing of walkers, cyclists and horseriders using the main path through the forest.
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New proposed speed cushions at Birdwood Rd
The County Council is proposing some of those cheap and nasty speed cushions at Birdwood Rd. Link: https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/residents/travel-roads-and-parking/roads-and-pathways/traffic-regulation-orders/permanent-traffic-regulation-orders#proposed-tro--reference-number-pr--------proposed-speed-cushions-in-birdwood-road--cambridge--9-0
Closing date for comment is 17 March 2023. Email to: policyandregulation@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
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Stall bike events 2023
This is a container issue for event threads.
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Putting residents & communities at the heart of the conversation - consultation
Cambridge City Council have launched this new consultation as part of the Our Cambridge programme which aims to shape the council of the future. This may be relevant to our work because it includes thinking about how the council works with its stakeholders.
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23/00629/FUL - 3 apartments 627-631 Newmarket Rd
A previous application was refused in part because of the cycle parking provision. What's the new one like?
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Survival Skills for Cyclists course - 25/3/23
Are you confident at what to do if something goes wrong with your bike when you're miles from home? Could you repair a puncture by the side of the road? Yes? Great! No need to read on.
No? You may be interested in the following Saturday workshop I am running again. This will be a repeat of the popular workshop held last year where attendees gave feedback such as:
"Excellent - would recommend it to all inexperienced riders."
"Following the course I really feel I understand the workings of my cycle."
"It was very clearly explained and covered very useful topics."
"Thoroughly informative workshop. To be highly recommended."
David Green
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Survival Skills for Cyclists
Venue: Coleridge Community College, Radegund Road, Cambridge CB1 3RJ
Date: Sat 25 March 2023, 10am to 4 pm
Description: A one day bike maintenance course for local cyclists. Bring your bike and get confident you can cope with common roadside cycling breakdowns. Women members especially encouraged to sign up! Places are limited to ensure you learn in a small friendly group and get all the assistance you need. Topics will include: checks before you set off, tools to take along, fixing punctures, handling chain problems, gear and brake adjustments.
Equipment: Your own bike to work on, pump, puncture repair kit, and any tools you normally ride with.
Refreshments: hot and cold drinks provided, but please bring your own lunch!
Fee: £20 (CTC and CamCycle members) £50 (non-members). Subsidy available for those on a low income - please don't be put off by the price. Primarily funded and supported by CTC Cambridge.
Enrolment: To book a place, email da...@guertler-green.co.uk with subject 'Survival Skills for Cyclists 25 March 2023'. -
Traffic calming proposal
There's a proposal to use speed cushions to slow traffic down on Shelly Row and Albion Row.
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Watercress Park Motorcycle Inhibitor
Consultation:
London Borough of Sutton is considering installing a motorcycle barrier on the Spencer Road Entrance at Watercress Park to help prevent unlawful use by motorbikes and we are interested in hearing your views. The barriers are designed to allow pedestrians and those using mobility scooters and wheelchairs to enter but to stop motorcycles from gaining access.
We are aware that motorbikes regularly access the site via the Spencer Road entrance which can cause anti-social behaviour and safety issues. As part of the Council's commitment to improving the situation for local residents we propose to install an inhibitor gate.
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Stafford Road Parallel crossing and surrounding area
- Environment and Sustainable Transport Committee
- 2023/24 and indicative 2024/25 programmes
(Last item on sheet)
Convert zebra crossing to a parallel crossing (one that allows cyclists to use it) near Mellows Park which would provide a continuous safe facility for cyclists. This would provide links to an existing contra flow cycle lane in Redford Avenue and a large residential area in Mellows Park, and a borough cycle route into Wallington district centre
Stafford Road Parallel crossing
- Borough Cycling
- Medium priority
- 23/24 Funding staff £14k project £30k
- 24/25 Funding staff £0 project £0
These currently being negotiated by LBS with TfL - hopefully funding confirmed mid March 2023.
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North Street Parallel crossing
- Route ends
- No Wayfinding - unclear junction movements
- potential conflict with pedestrians and cyclists on 7m shared use path, only 2m wide
- Cycling prohibited sections
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Capital Park CB21
The new owners of Capital Park, Fulbourn, CB21 would like to meet and discuss any cycling issues relevant to the site.
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Stow cum Quy: chicanes
On-road section of Greenway which is unpleasant and dangerous, and certainly not suitable for riders of all ages and levels of confidence, as it should be.
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Cleveland Street Cycleway
This is a joint Camden and Westminster consultation of the design of a short route of part of the longer Fitzrovia to Pimlico cycle route. https://westminstercycleways.co.uk/cleveland-street-cycleway.html
Westminster Council is leading on this project. Consultation closes 3 March. There will also be a drop-in community event about the plans from 3pm to 7.30pm on Tuesday 7 February 2023 at Fitzrovia Community Centre, 2 Foley Street, London W1W 6DL. -
Greenshaw High School regeneration project
The current layout and building stock at Greenshaw are inefficient and energy intensive.
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St John's Innovation Centre - Vitrum building
22/05108/SCRE | EIA screening opinion under the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017 for the proposed development to provide up to 12,442 sqm of employment floorspace in a building up to 34 metres in height with associated car parking, cycle parking and landscaping. | Vitrum Building St Johns Innovation Park Cowley Road Cambridge Cambridgeshire CB4 0WS
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Plough Lane
The Council is proposing to introduce a traffic management scheme in Plough Lane junction with Collyer Avenue and Queenswood Avenue. We are proposing these measures in response to concerns raised by local residents in the area, ward councillors about traffic speed, noise, pollution, cut through traffic and road safety at the above mentioned junctions.
What is proposed?
The following measures are proposed:
- No entry points at the junctions with Collyer Avenue and Queenswood Avenue preventing access from Plough Lane. These measures also include mandatory cycle lanes at Collyer Avenue & Queenswood Avenue junction with Plough Lane
- New waiting restrictions in Collyer Avenue and Queenswood Avenue junction with Plough Lane.
What is the aim of the measures?
These measures aim to
- Reduce risk of personal injury accidents and provide a safer environment for all road users.
- Reduce traffic conflicts, improve traffic flow, safety and congestion at junctions
- To discourage of obstructive parking
- To encourage active travel
- Provision of cycle facilities
- To enhance inclusiveness particularly for the vulnerable users
From the 2023/24 and indicative 2024/25 programmes: (A) / Environment and Sustainable Transport Committee
Appendix 7 b) - this is getting (£ ,000's )
- 23/24 Funding Staff 12 Project 28 Total 40
- 24/25 Funding Staff 10 Project 20 Total 30
Perceived safety issues raised that vehicles are not stopping at the
existing zebra because vehicles are rat running to avoid Croydon
Road/A232 (red route). The zebra is located on a link between the two
roads being used for rat running so drivers are looking for the next road
entrance rather than at the zebra. The proposal is considering measures
to address through traffic issues - initial locations being investigated are
the junctions of Queenswood Avenue/Plough Lane and Collyer
Ave/Plough Lane (subject to consultation).
The proposal also includes consideration of a parallel low traffic cycle
route along Queenswood & Collyers Road as an alternative to the A232
Croydon Road which currently has no cycle facilities along the parallel
stretch. Cyclists using this quiet alternative link will be able to re-join the
A232 Croydon Road via Aldwick Rd which connects to the existing
Croydon Rd cycle facility. This element of the scheme could be moved to
the Cycle Network Development/Borough Cycling Fund.
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Traffic calming controls don’t leave room for cargo trikes in cycle lanes
Grange Road has extremely narrow cycle lanes for most of its length, which include traffic calming bollards forcing traffic down to a single lane. While this design does slow traffic, the narrow space for the cycle lane means that trikes have to slow almost to a stop to pass safely -- or in some cases may not fit at all. This forces trikes out into the single centre lane, where cars may not properly give way, and also are the sites of speed bumps and significant potholes. If the lanes were about 20-30cm wider, then trikes could pass without a problem. This issue affects all of the bollards on both sides of Grange Road for its full length, but I’ve highlighted a particularly problematic one since I had to pick a spot.
(In general, the cycle lanes on Grange Road are too narrow for cargo trikes forcing them out into traffic lanes anyway, but it’s the brick bases to the bollards that cause a particular problem.)
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Cycle path at junction of Trumpington and Brooklands problematic for trikes
On the northeast side of the Trumpington Road and Brooklands Ave junction, there’s a combined cycle and foot path around the corner that suffers two problems that make trike use problematic in peak times:
- The path is quite narrow, and in one place there is a sign post. This path is quite narrow for use with a cargo trike even if no one else is on the path -- but if there are cyclists (especially cargo bikes/trikes) going in the other direction, the path is simply too narrow. Most of the time cyclists or pedestrians wait for one another, but this doesn’t always happen.
- The camber on the path is extremely steep, especially where there is a cut to allow cycles up off of Brooklands going east. Trikes are at substantial risk of tipping, especially if there isn’t a child or cargo in the trike and the centre of gravity is high.
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Bollards on Storeys Way too close, making cargo trike passage difficult
Bollards close Storeys Way to through traffic while allowing cycles through. However, the bollard spacing makes it difficult to get cargo trikes through -- e.g., Nohila and Winther products.
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East Road wands too narrow at first
Where the new wands on East road begin if heading from the Newmarket road underpass into East road is a layby outside Mackays. The placement of the wands initially mean there is insufficient room to cycle on the road, but the layby is potholed, making it difficult to ride through. After the layby the spacing is wider and they are much better.
This map shows all issues, whether points, routes, or areas:
The most popular issues, based on the number of votes:
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Lower Mortlake Road side roads
All the sideroads between Richmond Circus and Manor Circus are a danger to cyclists on the cycleway.
There is no warning to motorists that there will be crossing cyclists and the building angles make it hard to see if anything is coming.
Turning traffic from the A316 can have an obscured view of the cycleway due to foliage.
Decrease corner radii.
Make road hump more pronounced.
Make cycle surface colour continuous across roadway.
Add markings across roadway.
Add warning signage.
Move give way lines back to before cycleway or add additional give way lines. -
Dangerous cycle lanes in Ipswich Town Centre
In Museum Street and Upper Brook Street/Northgate Street it is very dangerous to cycle. Both roads are very narrow, have lots of buses pass through and there are contraflow cycle paths. On those you are very close to the buses (both directions) even if you wait on the pavements to let them through because you are worried about accidents. Can cyclepaths go through Elm Street, Tower Street or Tower Rampart instead?
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Proper cycle provision on Cherry Hinton Road needed
Cherry Hinton Road is currently mainly typical 'blue sign on a pavement' provision, despite having the edge-to-edge width in places for proper cycle provision. A longer-term objective should be to upgrade this.
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Cycle lane forces cyclists to yield priority
When cycling north-bound along Tavistock Road, there is a cycle lane in places. Once out from under the Crownhill Road bridge the lane turns sharply left, forcing cyclists to yield to traffic joining Tavistock Road from the left.
The Highway Code states you should yield to traffic from the right and this junction is very dangerous to cyclists. It would be far better to simply continue the cycle lane straight ahead and erect yield signs to traffic joining Tavistock Road -
Twickenham Bridge to Thames Path
The cycleways along the Thames Path and along Ducks Walk are not connected with the south/east side cycleway across Twickenham Bridge and only to the north/west side cycleway via a long detour through Old Deer Park or along The Avenue.
A ramped way down from the bridge would create a useful route for people into and out of Richmond town center that is currently only possible by using two flights of steps.
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Exeter to Crediton Cyclepath
The primary route between Crediton and Exeter is the narrow and busy A377. It has been the site of at least one cycling fatality near Newton St Cyres.
An alternative route is possible using the lanes north of the A377 through Sweetham. However this route is compromised at both ends - at Exeter in the Cowley Bridge area and in Crediton by the approach along the A3072.
Development of a safe route is belived to be of high priority.
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Railway Route between Cambridge and Cherry Hinton
The railway line from Cambridge to Newmarket turns out across Coldham's Common and right through the middle of Cherry Hinton, and then carries on passing to the north of Fulbourn.
There are currently (2013) two main routes from the east of Cambridge to Cherry Hinton - the Tins and Snakey Path. However both have long very narrow sections involving pedestrian conflict.
The railway line is single track - but satellite images show the bridges crossing Barnwell Road and Coldham's Lane were both built for dual track. So this means there should easily be enough room to accommodate a cycleway alongside the railway.
This route could then connect up with the Chisholm Trail and provide a direct fast cycle route to and from the city and the Science Park area.
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Litlington to Therfield over the A505 at Royston
Our club (South Herts CTC) had to cross the A505 to get back into Hertfordshire on Sunday and we took a route between Litlington and Therfield which involved 500 m along the A505 and a right turn at the roundabout west of Royston.
I was quite surprised there was no cycle route to help cyclists here. It was a Sunday so at least there were fewer heavy vehicles than normal, but the speed of some cars coming up behind made it tricky to change lanes on a bike when turning right at the roundabout.
Since then I have studied other ways of crossing the A505 (using Google Streetview) and can't find any easy crossing points near Royston. I see it is the boundary between Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire, which complicates matters (although it looks like the A505 road is in Herts).
To the east, I've used the B1368 crossing at Flint Cross, which is also a nightmare. To the west the crossing at Slip End does at least have a central refuge. It seems little or no thought was given to cyclists when the A505 was constructed.
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Thames Garden Bridge
Apparently TfL commissioned "...to explore the opportunity of a pedestrian river crossing ....". They may not think bikes should also be included, but they should!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/luxury/travel/4162/a-garden-bridge-across-the-thames.html
http://www.gardenbridgetrust.org/index.html -
Petersham Road
There is a fairly good cycle lanes from Kingston towards Richmond up until you reach the Richmond Council border where Richmond Road (A307) turns into the Upper Ham Road (A307) and eventually Petersham Road (A307). At traffic lights along this route there are reserved areas for cyclists but along the roads there is nothing to remind drivers that cyclists share the road especially when the road narrows after Sandy Lane through Petersham. The road surface here is terrible and the speed bumps are pointless because some driver sprint between the bumps.
The best solution would be to remove the cyclists from this route altogether by upgrading the Thames Path to create a proper cycle path along the River Thames towards Richmond that currently stops at Teddington Lock. If a cycle/foot bridge linking Ham with Twickenham was built over Eel Pie along this route it would create an obvious link for those want to reach Twickenham.
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Cycle lane infringement on Pembroke Street and Downing Street
Because of queuing for the Grand Arcade car park, amongst other things, the mandatory cycle lane on Pembroke Street and Downing Street is routinely abused by motor vehicles – one every 66 seconds on a Saturday afternoon http://www.cyclestreets.net/galleries/221/.
The corner at Free School Lane is a particular concern because vehicles traveling east can't see oncoming cycles.
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Chicanes too close
Added to reduce confict with pedestrians at back of Leith Academy.
Will act as a barrier to long bikes, trailers and probably buggies and wheelchairs.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/chdot/8116937797/sizes/l/in/photostream
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Emmanuel College 12/0029/FUL
Starting a thread about this application here so we can continue on from the previous planning list discussion.
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Turn Dock Street entrance into continuous pavement/cycle track
The entrance to Dock Street should be turned into a continuous footway with pedestrian and cyclist priority over turning vehicles akin to this Danish junction: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcnmLU1ClTo
This would improve sight lines for pedestrians too as the dropped kerbs are away from the junction, and it would also go with the pedestrian desire line as many tend to cross closer to the junction than the dropped kerbs. It would also slow down the vehicles entering the narrow street.
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Calton Gardens / Holloway
A dropped kerb at this point would improve the route that people can take to cycle between Bear Flat and the city centre - making it easier to use Calton Gardens to avoid the section of footpath on the alternative via Holloway and St Marks Church.
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Upgrade footway on Wherestead Road over A14 to allow cycling and sign
Improving the connectivity from Bourne Hill over the A14 to Wherestead with dropped kerbs, allowing cycling and signing as a cycle route would be a step in the process to improving cycle access south from Ipswich to various places including Jimmy's Farm (a family leisure venue, which should be cycleable to by a family with young children), Shotley Peninsula, and the land route to Harwich International ferry port for cycling to The Netherlands.
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Narrow Approach To Clifton Suspension Bridge With Unsuitable Cycle Lane
On the eastern approach to Clifton Suspension Bridge the narrow road curves past a pedestrian refuge next to a toilet block. The short cycle lane that had started as approximately 1.2 metres wide narrows to approximately 0.9 metres at the refuge. More than half of the cycle lane at that point is paved with uneven cobbles unsuitable for cycling, especially on a bend. The traffic lane (approx 3.2 metres) is too narrow for a car and a bicycle to pass together. The cycle lane, in effect, is encouraging inexperienced cyclists to adopt a vulnerable road position and to cycle on an unsuitable surface.
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Restrictive Permeability between Bristol and South Gloucestshire on Wordsworth Road
A northern stretch of Bristol's waymarked "Concorde Way" runs along a quiet residential street, Wordsworth Road. On the newest housing development as Bristol gives way to South Gloucestershire there is a barrier between the end of Wordsworth Road and the start of Eighth Avenue to prevent motor vehicles passing through. There is a raised curb, offset railings and large grey concrete bollards and only a narrow passage either side of one bollard for cyclists to ride through. Tricycles, cargo bikes, or trailers might be to be lifted over the raised curb. In dusk or darkness neither the bollards nor the curb are easy to see. There is a light on the traffic sign offering some help, but a less intimidating arrangements or reflective/high-visibility surfaces could be considered.
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Cottenham to Histon Cycleway
The Cottenham to Histon cycleway needs improvement.
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Link from SPCC route to Ipswich town centre
The Shotley Peninsula Cycle Campaign have plans for a dedicated cycle path from the edge of Ipswich to Shotley. http://www.spcc.info/News%20and%20Projects.html
Upgrades are needed from Ipswich town centre to the new cycle track.
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Various improvements between Ipswich and Harwich International
Many cyclists won't cycle to Harwich International from the Ipswich direction due to the roads. There really should be a high quality cycle route for this to continue the cycle journey from The Netherlands, where you can ride of the ferry and on to quality cycle infrastructure. The fact people choose the train is not a good sign.
This issue is the overall goal, and needs to be broken down into smaller sub issues of smaller more specific projects or improvements that can work towards this goal.
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Palewell Fields pedestrian route - obstruction
The path linking Bank Lane to Palewell Fields is currently pedestrian only, with gates across it. Opening this up to cyclists would improve permeability and provide a quiet route to Richmond Park Academy school from Roehampton (east-west); and to Ibstock Place school from Sheen (west-east).
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Should Cambridge 'Go Dutch' (or Danish)
London Cycling Campaign has reorientated its policy towards a 'Go Dutch' approach.
This aims to learn from best practice abroad rather than continuing with the 'hierarchy of provision' that, in 20 years in the UK, has arguably failed to deliver meaningful change.
This is an overarching issue for conceptual discussion of this issue.
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The 'Milton Road Effect'
Vehicles are continually abusing cyclists who use the road here because the bus lane on the other side forces the carriageway to be narrow.
Although there is the cycleway, it has the usual problems of loss of priority at sideroads, bins in the way, people going in and out of driveways, etc.
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Phasing of Eagle Street Lights eastbound such that you always get caught at second again
The traffic lights at Eagle Street were timed such that travelling eastbound you would always get caught at the second set unless you were extremely fast setting off. After discussions with the council and it brought up at the Sustainability Forum by Cllr Smart, it was fixed to increase the length of time that those lights were green, and was great as you always knew you could get through the second set of lights without having to wait unless you just went through the earlier ones just before they went red.
However over the past few days the signal timing has changed back to the older timing where the probability of getting through the second set is virtually nil. In an ideal world they would be phased such that the first set would go green, then the second set would go green several seconds later at the point where you would be arriving at them, rather than having them change to green almost at the same time.