Ramps at Cambridge station to island platform
The wheeling ramps over the line to the new island platform are attracting some criticism.
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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Brook Hill Roundabout
Brook Hill roundabout is a major barrier for cyclists in West Sheffield. The traffic is fast and as it is a three-lane spiral roundabout with the exit roads (except Bolsover St) having two lanes there is a lot of lane-switching by motorists. This makes the risk of a collision very high, and for less experienced cyclists it is simply a no-go area.
Many of the buildings adjacent to the roundabout belong to the University, and have been built up to the curtilage, so there is no space to expand the pavements and make them shared use.
One alternative for cyclists coming from the Walkley/Crookes area via Bolsover St is to use Tower Court, but this area can be very congested when the University is in session, with several thousand students using the Arts Tower and Library.
The council has signed an alternative route via Weston St and the Netherthorpe Rd tram subway, but this involves a drop in height of about 100 metres and subsequent climb up again, plus the negotiation of access barriers in the subway, so is not really sensible.
Meanwhile on Upper Hanover Way, a cycle crossing was severed when the tramway was installed, although cyclists still use the crossing. A proposed alternative crossing is stalled as it is too expensive.
What can be done about this knotty problem?
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Eurokent, Thanet [OL/TH/11/0910]
Substantial development: 55 dwellings, 63000sqm business use, 2000sqm local centre.
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Vehicles using Mandatory Cycle Lanes (MCLs) in Cambridge and beyond
Vehicles parking and driving in cycle lanes are a serious problem in Cambridge and beyond.
This is a master issue for discussions on this general problem.
(The Downing Street cycle lane has been shown as a key location where this is a problem, though the issue is city-wide.)
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Elham Valley Railway
Much of the route of the former Elham Valley Railway has not been constructed on. This would make an ideal long-distance cycle path.
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Westgate Towers traffic restrictions
12-month trial traffic restriction at Westgate Towers with a view to pedestrianisation of the road through the towers. Access in the area will be largely limited to buses, taxis, and cyclists.
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Melbourne Avenue, Dover footpath upgrade
Proposals are being made to provide a surfaced route suitable to facilitate a direct and largely traffic free route for cycling between Whitfield and Dover town.
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Planning application at Addenbrooke's "Titanic" MRC building for new cycle sheds
I've just come across
http://idox.cambridge.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=LZDOOTDX07B00Basically, it's an area which was surveyed in the summer, where we identified that the current cycle parking was rubbish.
They are planning to improve the spacing, and make it secure sheds, but at the cost of reducing the number of spaces, which oddly I inspected the other lunchtime and all were full apart from the "wheelbenders at 30cm spacing", from 178 spaces to 146 spaces. When we did our survey, we felt more spaces could be fitted in, at a better spacing, than what is currently there. There is more detail in the Design and Access Statement regarding the lighting than there is about the actual sheds, how you get in and out of them, and whether you can easily park a bike in them.
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Trumpington Road/Mill Lane junction
This junction is a pain for all users as the only traffic to get through unimpeded is that going to the Grand Arcade car park.
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One way Except Cyclists
Making this road 2 way for cyclists will greatly increase the permability through Altrincham. Without this exception cyclists are forced onto the busy A56 or Stamford New Road also busy. Test
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Lack of joined up information on Council websites
I've just sent a sharp email to the Council. It reads as below. If the council can't do joined up information on their own websites, how do they expect people to make these modal shifts in transport that they are so keen on?
"Dear Parking services,
I've just done a google search on this.http://www.google.co.uk/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=park+st+car+park+ca
mbridge&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&redir_esc=&ei=eZdMT-vbLsnu8QPw7pHXAgfirst item says "multi-story car park with cycle parking and pushchairs
for loan".However, when you then go to the Park St car park page, it says nothing
about either cycle parking being available, nor about the pushchair loan
scheme. How about a link tohttp://www.cambridge.gov.uk/ccm/content/transport-and-streets/cycling-and
-walking/cycle-parks.enon the website, so we don't have to do a separate search, so that when
people go to the Park St website, they can get all of its features? They
may even then decide to cycle into town rather than drive.I was looking for this information as I was just emailing a friend who
lives in Chesterton and has a nine month old child, who I wasn't sure
would be aware of this scheme, which she may find useful. However, if we
have to spend five minutes doing exactly the correct google searches, it
counts as a "secret facility" apart from those in the know.I wasn't aware, for example, that you could also get pushchairs at the
Grand Arcade one. This information needs better dissemination, and
linking from within the car park and other public transport pages, so
that people can make a properly informed decision about their transport
choices when visiting the city. This, surely, is the way to get modal
shifts in people's transport choices?" -
Temporary road closures due to races
e.g.
A report in the Cambridge News
http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Home/Streets-due-to-be-closed-to-traffic-for-the-race-24022012.htmThe car-centric paper talks about motorists, but there is of course no information for cyclists and pedestrians. These are roads that are closed. To all traffic including cyclists and pedestrians? Will routes across the Commons also be closed to cyclists?
How should those of us who have to work that day in the centre of town get to work? Will it paradoxically be easier for me to drive along the A14 and M11, down the Barton Road, and park my car on West Road, and walk through King's, than cycle through Chesterton and Midsummer Common and through town and try to park my bike on King's Parade?
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Improve crossing safety
Improvements proposed by a resident to the safety of the pedestrian crossing at the Trumpington Road/Fen Causeway junction.
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Royal Cambridge Hotel junction (Trumpington Road/Fen Causeway) unsafe
This junction is one of the most dangerous in the city. For many years, there have been injuries (and a death I believe) and complaints, but nothing has yet been done.
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Shilling's Yard, Parham Road, Canterbury [CA/10/01624]
Student accommodation and cycle parking.
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Improvements to 20mph signage
They propose improving the 20mph signage in the city centre.
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Sittingbourne Mill redevelopment
Redevelopment of the Sittingbourne Mill site to include a superstore, approximately 150 new houses, and a park.
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Dropped kerb on Christchurch Street
A dropped kerb with and footway extension to 'facilitate' cycle route.
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Lighting on Parker's Piece
A proposal to install lighting on the mid points of the footpaths on Parker's Piece.
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Westwood Road cycle path extension
Proposed new cycle path beside Westwood Road. This closes a gap in the cycle path network in Thanet.
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Lighting Gough Way
A proposal to light the Gough Way cycle/footpath with solar- powered, directional cats eyes. The footbridge will be upgraded soon, so this is the next step. The route is well used.
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Cycle path on Lammas Land
A proposal to put in a new cycle path on the southern side of Lammas Land. The comment next to this in the report dismisses it because of the access road. They feel the loss of green space outweighs the need for it.
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Landscaping at junction of Selwyn/Grantchester Road
This could be important given the traffic calming work that was approved for the section of road outside the rugby ground.
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Mini roundabout for Newlands Park/Westbourne Road near Penge East station
Recently near Petts Wood station there has been a similar junction where the main flow of traffic is round the corner, whilst being a crossroads, which has been changed to a mini roundabout which slows the traffic more and makes it easier for cyclists. http://osm.org/go/0EEBtsaNj-?m
I'm wondering if the same can happen here.
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Resurfacing footpath near Grantchester Meadows
From the West/Central Area Committee agenda, a proposal to resurface the track from South Green Road to the start of the Grantchester Meadows path. They will consider whether to adopt this on 1st March.
This map shows all issues, whether points, routes, or areas:
The most popular issues, based on the number of votes:
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Convert footpath Watling St to Coningsby Bank
Convert footpath between Watling St & Coningsby Bank, near the Park St roundabout, to a bridleway & resurface.
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Holyrood Crescent to Butterfield Lane
Proper surface on the link from Butterfield Lane to Holyrood Crescent
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Pilton Park Cycle Route
To provide a safe route between Barnstaple Town Centre and the Pilton area, this footpath should be upgraded to a shared path, initially just by change of status, at a later stage, widening of the path should also be considered.
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Thames towpath - Richmond-Ham
The towpath from Richmond to Teddington lock is currently unappealing and dangerous. These photos were taken in May and the path is a lot worse after in winter or after a spring tide.
It is sufficient for people on mountain bikes who do not mind getting muddy, but not easy for children, older people, less confident cyclists, pedestrians with buggies, cyclists on cargo bikes etc to navigate - basically all the vulnerable road users who would most benefit from avoiding the busy, fast moving traffic on the narrow winding Petersham Road.
I take this route to work and I have to plan for the fact that I will get covered in mud every morning, and take it very slowly because it is so bumpy. I have seen pedestrians and those with child buggies climbing over the flood wall and walking on the grass on Petersham field in order to avoid this path. When I have my child in the bike seat I get off and walk the section between Ham House and River Lane that is pictured as I don't feel safe.
With a bit of thought this path has the potential to be an excellent car-free cycling and walking route that would tempt people out of their traffic jammed cars on Petersham Road.
See also the discussion at http://www.cyclescape.org/threads/811
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Teddington - Broad Street - more cycle parking needed
The demand for cycle parking exceeds the supply in this important shopping area.
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Traffic Light Sensor
Traffic lights will not change for cyclists when on the sensor (at night).
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Bike-bus Sundays and Bank Holidays
I propose the creation of bike/bus scheme: a bus service for Sundays and Bank holidays leaving Cambridge Rail Station, heading out through Barton Road and linking Burwash Manor, Wimpole Hall, Gamlingay Woods, Great Gransden Woods etc in a circular route. Short cycle routes to be developed around villages along the route. Cyclists can choose the length of journey they want to make and be assured of a ride home by bus if they do not wish to cycle back to Cambridge...
A 24 cycle bike-trailer can be towed behind a 20 seater bus, providing sustainable tourism access to South Cambridgeshire and passenger transport services for settlements that do not currently have Sunday services. Please respond and state whether you would be interested in such a service.
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Highgate Lane/A325 junction improvements
Proposal to help pedestrians crossing A325 also includes a proposed Shared Use Path.
Concerns:
1. Shared Use Path would feed cyclists into moving traffic, better if they join at the junction.
2. Proposed traffic islands and changes to kerb line create pinch points for cyclists.
3. Signalled crossing on north branch of junction would serve pedestrians better.
4. Conflicts between pedestrians and cyclists on existing and proposed SUPs -
Proposed pedestrians and cycle facilities at Sulzers roundabout
Proposed changes to Elles Road crossing creating a corral style refuge and improving sight lines by removing vegetation.
Proposed changes to centre of roundabout to create cycle paths. -
Green Dragon bridge closed for maintenance 6 January 2014 for 8 weeks
County Council press release: http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/CMSWebsite/Apps/News/Details.aspx?ref=1154
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Join Kew Gardens east side to Thames Path
It would be useful to provide a route from east side of Kew Gardens station; via Burlington Avenue; along Mortlake Road and up the service road alongside the district line to the Thames Path. The service road is already closed to traffic; but cycling is obstructed by a large ugly concrete barrier (see photo). There is room on the north side of Mortlake Road for a short section of dedicated cycling space to link to the junction with Burlington Ave - see http://goo.gl/maps/DG7gh. The crossing could be problematic.
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Cycle route frequently obstructed by cars
The garage at the end of radcliffe road uses the end of this road as a car storage area, which often results in the access onto the cyclepath being obstructed.
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Off-road route to link end of footpath 32 bridleway conversion to Wheathampstead
Route to link the Northern end of the converted foothpath running from Sandridge to No-Mans's land via Heartwood to Wheathampstead.
This is on the Hertfordshire County Council's rights of way improvement scheme.
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Rushmoor and Surrey Cycling Strategy
Surrey County Council have started a consultation for their proposed cycling strategy.
This issue covers the aspects related to the bordering borough of Rushmoor.
Consultation finishes on 1 November 2103
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All-green phase at Silver Street / Queen's Road junction
This junction has often been suggested a prime site where a continental-style 'all green phase' signalling scheme could be tried.
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Improve Dual Carriageway, London Road, Copdock for cycling
This is a signed cycle route from Capel St Mary into Ipswich. It used to be the A12 into Ipswich. Now it's a 50 mph dual carriageway, with little traffic due to minimal access. It would be easy to bring it down to one lane each way, and give the other lane over to cyclists with safe segregation and a wide path. Also on the south end a better link and also signage southbound to Capel St Mary and other places further south is needed.