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Cambridge hosts Cycling@Tea-time

Published 28 January 2025

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Last week, Cycling@Tea-time came to Cambridge to get an insight into new schemes and projects transforming the city.

The event featured a cycle tour of the Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP)’s Milton Road scheme, followed by a presentation from the project team. This scheme aims to improve public transport, cycling, and walking infrastructure, with segregated facilities for pedestrians and cyclists. Creating quicker, safer journeys to encourage more people to walk and cycle along this key route into the city.

Cllr Elisa Meschini, chair of the GCP, said: “Since Milton Road’s completion, it’s been wonderful to see the impact the scheme is already having on so many people’s lives. Busy journeys to and from school or work are now safer and quicker with more designated crossing points across the scheme, ensuring people of all ages and abilities feel comfortable travelling along this busy route.

“It’s been lovely hearing people’s positive feedback on the scheme, and I very much look forward to seeing its popularity continue to grow.”

Cllr Alex Beckett, Chair of the Highways and Transport Committee at Cambridgeshire County Council, said: “Increasing active travel is a key part of our commitment to support health, well-being and economic growth in Cambridgeshire. It was great to meet the visitors from Cycling@Tea-time and see how our efforts to make more sustainable methods of travel easier and more pleasant are being recognised.

“The Milton Road scheme has improved public transport, cycle and walking infrastructure, and is one of the many schemes we’re delivering across the county, that enable walkers and wheelers to make safe, sustainable and healthy travel choices.”

Dr Tom Cohen, a member of the Active Travel Academy at the University of Westminster and one of the event’s organisers said: “It was great to take Cycling@Tea-time on the road and we were thrilled that Cambridgeshire County Council and the Greater Cambridge Partnership hosted us. Cambridge has long enjoyed a strong reputation for its cycling provision. We knew exciting things have been happening and really enjoyed seeing them first-hand and hearing the story from local stakeholders.”

The event highlighted ongoing efforts underway across Greater Cambridge to improve active travel infrastructure, with new projects further enhancing walking and cycling routes in the region.

As part of the ongoing work on the GCP Greenways, teams are looking to deliver further active travel improvements this year on Adams Road and Barton Road.

Improvements on Adams Road will see the introduction of traffic-calming features, junction improvements, and red surfacing to prioritise cycling. New planting will also be strategically placed to enhance the street scene and better absorb rainwater.

Works along Barton Road will upgrade the existing pathway by widening and resurfacing the route, and placing new kerb lines in to segregate path users and traffic.

Cycling@Tea-time is a long-standing series of policy seminars on cycling, supported by the Active Travel Academy. You can find out more information and watch past sessions on their blog, Active Travel Academy.

For more information about Cambridgeshire County Council's active travel, visit www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/residents/travel-roads-and-parking/active-travel-in-cambridgeshire .

For more information about the Greater Cambridge Partnership's active travel projects, visit www.greatercambridge.org.uk/sustainable-transport-programme/active-travel-projects .