Bicycles prioritised over car owners on busy road with controversial new £2million 'cycle street'

Cambridge has become England's first city to launch a so-called "cycle street" to give cyclists and pedestrians priority over car owners.

Construction on the ambitious project first began in October last year and is estimated to have cost around £2.4million.

Greater Cambridge Partnership confirmed that the redevelopment of Adams Road would make the area England's first cycle street.

An estimated 3,000 cyclists use Adams Road during peak times every day, prompting the redevelopment of one of the busiest cycling routes in Cambridge.

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GCP said the changes would prioritise walking and cycling, improve safety and form part of its network of greenways across the city.

It highlighted how the previous design of Adams Road contributed to road risks with an overcrowded carriageway, narrow pavements and busy junctions.

Motorists will still be able to use the road, although they must give way to cyclists, and much of the on-street parking will be removed.

The partnership said this was being done to reduce blind spots for drivers leaving driveways and reduce the risk of car doors opening in the path of riders.

Vehicles will be required to adhere to lower speeds, while raised crossings and wider footpaths have been installed to improve safety for pedestrians.

The road layout changes have been inspired by streets in the Netherlands, which have redesigned roads across the nation to protect cyclists.

Commenting on the new measures, Councillor Brian Milnes, chair of the GCP, said: "We've heard too many stories of cyclists being knocked off their bikes and car doors suddenly opening into their path, while elderly and vulnerable residents have to step into the road just to get around bins or parked cars.

"That shouldn't be the reality on one of Cambridge's busiest cycling routes. This project is about putting people first - making everyday journeys safer and easier for everyone."

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The road changes have sparked mixed reactions from locals following around seven months of construction on a major artery in the city.

Some have criticised the use of funding to design the cycle street when other heavily-used roads are covered in potholes.

Speaking to the BBC, one concerned local described the scheme as a "vanity project" and condemned the amount of money spent on the cycle street.

Despite this, Dan Strauss, who represents residents of Adams Road, said change was "so needed" for the street.

He acknowledged that it was a "cycling success story", but warned that some riders were facing issues when travelling around parked cars.

Mr Strauss said: "Fast-moving traffic, crowded pavements and constant near misses have turned one of the busiest cycle routes in Cambridge into an unsafe cycling experience.

"As well as this, parents worry about letting children ride bikes or scooters, and families have watched loved ones using mobility aids forced to navigate one obstacle after another on narrow pavements."

Adams Road forms part of the GCP's Comberton Greenway, which is one of 12 new greenways across Cambridge.

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