Month: March 2021

Earlier this month, Cambridge 105 Radio hosted an interview programme with several members of the local community expressing views both for and against a modal filter. In the programme, Councillor Scutt (representative for Arbury) stated her “number one” solution for Arbury Road (and climate change) would be to apply for more trees (but strangely not to reduce emissions?). Even if this made sense – where would these trees go and what effect would a few saplings have? Our cycling officer wrote to her asking her these questions… 

A rough calculation shows that as a minimum, 5000 fully mature oak trees would be required between the North Academy and Milton Road to absorb the carbon dioxide emitted by the level of Co2e emitted in this 600m stretch. 

See calculation and Councillor Scutt’s response here.

As you are probably aware, our row of excellent independent shops on Arbury Road (near the Milton road junction) are in desperate need of a lay-by for deliveries and their customers alike.  Shops on Milton Road have lay-bys but the problem here has been ignored by the council for years. Our local shops have continued serving the community throughout the pandemic and deserve better. Please write to the council and your councillors on their behalf supporting a lay by

The following question was asked at the Greater Cambridge Partnership Executive meeting on 17th March 2021

In relation to Agenda Item 7, City Access Strategy Recommendations, Part (b) ‘Agree to prioritise road space for sustainable transport and make it a more competitive choice, by discouraging car use through..’

It is very encouraging to see all the hard work going on through the GCP Agenda and Reports, but I would contest that Cambridge is the cycling city that people imagine but rather a car drivers city and the people who cycle do so despite the cars

For most days of the week the East end of Arbury Road is choked with idling traffic waiting to turn on to Milton Road

Now as my children return to school, two on bicycles and one on foot, one still affected by long Covid symptoms there is traffic queuing as far as the eye can see from my house, the road effectively blocked for cyclists.

We are being encouraged to take up active travel, but I worry about the quality of the air we breathe in, as well as the safety aspect. This is especially awful to see at school time, this road is heavily used for active travel by people of all ages. But at school times it is the parents with young children and babies in trailers, or the children and students themselves who must either sit in the traffic queue and breathe in the fumes, retreat to the pavement or get off and wheel their bikes

The abrupt ending of the protective cycle lane just after North Cambridge Academy does a disservice to all the people who ride bikes as a method of travel. It really says, ‘ok you’re on your own now, good luck!’

When will the Arbury Road cycle lanes be completed all the way down to Milton Road? It makes no sense as a safe cycling route otherwise and I have seen data to show that it is very heavily used by cyclists