More cycle lanes planned for Cambridge and new one-way system on Mill Road

Extra cycles lanes, the removal of bus lanes and the introduction of a new one-way system in Cambridge are some of the changes to be carried out to the city’s roads over the next few weeks.

Cambridgeshire County Council has been working on temporary plans to give cyclists extra space to allow for social distancing and to encourage more people away from cars and onto bikes as the lockdown begins to ease.

A list of works was released today (Thursday) for Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire, which will be carried out in three waves:

In the next two weeks:

• Shelford Road to the Waitrose junction - removal of bus lane and widening of cycle lanes
• Chesterton Road – removal of centre line and addition of a cycle lane
• Milton High Street – removal of centre line and addition of a cycle lane
• Girton Road – removal of centre line and addition of a cycle lane
• Kings Hedges Road – removal of a centre line and addition of a cycle lane

By early June:

• Trumpington Road – on carriageway cycle lane and removal of bus lane and parking
• Trumpington Street to King’s Parade – potential on carriageway cycle lane

By mid-June:

• One-way system in place on Mill Road

The county council is also working with the Greater Cambridge Partnership to see if it can move ahead with the temporary closure of Luard Road and Grange Road in Cambridge.

The statement said: “As the nation gets ready for a return to a ‘new normal’ due to Covid-19, the government has advised members of the public to walk and cycle wherever possible, rather than relying on cars and public transport.

“Since the government announcement easing the nation’s lockdown restrictions, working closely with the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, both Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council have spent time preparing for both permanent and temporary measures – some of which could be put in place within the next two weeks.

“These measures aim to make walking and cycling a default option, by making it as easy as possible to make short trips. Both councils have been working with organisations such as Camcycle and Sustrans.

“As well as lessening the chances of spreading and catching Covid-19, walking and cycling also improves health and is better for the environment – two key factors which will help improve your chances of surviving the virus, should you get it.”

Councillor Ian Bates, chair of highways and transport at Cambridgeshire County Council, said: “Our transport team has been carefully considering this for some time, as we know from looking at other countries that walking and cycling is key in getting our county moving again during Covid-19.

“We’ve been working closely with partners including Camcycle to identify temporary changes we can make quickly to our existing network which will help residents to rely less on cars and public transport and instead, walk and cycle over the coming months.”

The Combined Authority has also applied to the government for money from a £250m fund to improve cycling and walking infrastructure, possibly encouraging more use of ebikes and escooters.

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