We, the undersigned, petition the Cambridgeshire County Council and the Highways and Transport committee to:

1. Stop the currently proposed scheme for the junction of Windsor Road, Oxford Road and the active travel route from Warwick Road, on the grounds that it would force pedestrians and cyclists into conflict on a very narrow pavement with sharp 90-degree turns, and make the cycle route inaccessible to many people using tricycles, cargo cycles, tandem cycles, mobility scooters, disability-adapted cycles or those who are towing trailers.

2. Ensure that the currently proposed scheme is replaced by one that is in full compliance with Local Transport Note (LTN) 1/20 and therefore is fully accessible to people of all ages and abilities.

We have become aware that the most recent design proposal (dated 1 November) for the junction of Windsor Road, Oxford Road and the active travel route from Warwick Road includes the removal of the existing dropped kerb for access into the active travel route, and instead replaces it with a long stretch of wooden fencing. That would force people cycling onto the pavement until they reach a narrow pedestrian crossing of Windsor Road, which is unsuitable for cycling. The sharp turns and narrow spaces would render this route effectively unusable for many people who currently use it, especially for parents who take their kids on cycles to the Mayfield School and Under Fives Roundabout Pre-school.

The government has published a cycling design manual called LTN 1/20. This manual sets out how to design cycle infrastructure that is inclusive, accessible and therefore safe. For example, in paragraph 5.6.3 it states: 'Deliberately restricting space, introducing staggered barriers or blind bends to slow cyclists is likely to increase the potential for user conflict and may prevent access for larger cycles and disabled people and so should not be used.'

Cambridgeshire County Council and Cambridge City Council have policies which stipulate that changes to streets or footways must improve both for walking and cycling. This scheme does neither. Therefore we ask the committee to step in and ensure that the scheme is replaced by an LTN 1/20 compliant scheme in accordance with best practice.

This petition is supported by Camcycle. Please see our website for more information:
www.camcycle.org.uk/windsor-road