The County Council is planning significant improvements to the footpaths and cycleways on Queen Edith’s Way, as well as to the half of Cherry Hinton Road nearest the city (above). We often complain that major works like this are progressed without talking to the residents, so the council should be congratulated on holding a well-publicised consultation on this one.
Local developers are contributing ?3 million to these cycling improvement schemes and for the Robin Hood junction. The work on the Robin Hood junction will be consulted on later this year, but for now, the planners want to have our input to the cycling schemes. They’ve set up an online survey which is open until Monday, 29 June. The plans which are drawn up after considering our feedback will go to a further, full public consultation before being implemented.
The survey took me just over 5 minutes to complete, so it’s not too demanding. If you have specific ideas which you’d like to put forward, do get them clear in your head first, because you’ll be asked for them right at the end. Even if you don’t, your opinion on whether you’d like new cycle paths or not is important. You’re not required to write anything, just tick a few boxes. Bear in mind that although the cycle lanes sound like a great idea, there are some consequences, such as the need to replace trees, the loss of parking bays, etc.
I am concerned that the new cycle ways will demonstrate a potential disaster for cyclists. In the old cycle ways, if there was any blockage on the cycle way, one could look behind and move out safely into the road to bypass the blockage or, in Hills Way, move over into the footpath area. All the evidence is that the new cycle paths will have sufficiently high curbs on either side that will prevent the safe execution of such manoeuvres. Cyclists will attempt to cross the curb and some will fall off especially in bad weather. With curbs in place, how will cycle ways be efficiently cleared of snow in the winter?
With the rise of what I call transport cycles (for transporting goods and children) along with tricycles, the cycle ways need to be much wider or have their curbs removed so that safe overtaking can be made.
What happens in these new cycle lanes when there are delivery lorries? What happens in these new cycle lanes at traffic lights? At present many lanes simply run out. There is no evidence that this will be corrected as for example as at the Long Road-Hills Road junction.
I use mainly car while still working, sometimes bike, and when I retire it will be mainly pedestrian and bus. There is no point in spending millions on cycleways if the bikes don’t use them. Which they don’t coz they don’t like junctions and driveways. I therefore don’t think it would be worth the increased urbanisation through loss of the recently planted trees which will make a pleasant and greener environment. I think the Council should save the money, and consider starting a regulatory/educational scheme for cycling in the City. A couple of weekends ago I witnessed 3 separate incidents of dangerous cycling through stupidity and/or aggression, within 15 minutes. I’m not anti cyclist, (ride myself) but some of them have a serious attitude problem.
Regarding Cherry Hinton Road this is more urban in nature than QE Way, and in many places there is more width for something to be done to improve what is there already. I think that would be worth doing a more in depth study for further comment.
Chris many thanks for alerting us that the consultation is happening.
Phil for what it’s worth I agree with you – QE Way is “good enough”. Top of CH Road could do with some separate cycle lanes to keep bikes flowing past the cars.