I want to be nice to cyclists - it's time for proper Space for Cycling (Michele Hanson, edited)

Olga was cycling along with a chum last week, two abreast, when the driver of a passing car called out, “You shouldn't ride like that. It’s dangerous.”

“Fuck off!” bellowed Olga, as usual. But this time she’d made a big mistake. The motorist was a policewoman. Olga had to stop and be told off by two officers who looked very young indeed, which she found galling, but didn't dare be rude, and for once had to grovel and apologise- despite the policemen being wrong. It’s not uncommon for police to wildly overstep the mark like this, and the belief that it’s illegal to ride two abreast is common

Olga didn’t deserve that. In a more civilised country there would be an excellent network of cycleways on major roads and no through motor traffic on back streets. Pedestrians would be free of fear of cyclists, having their own  space without cars parked blocking the pavement.

I mention this to Olga and she agrees, but she’s not put off cycling here anyway. Even though the last motorist she swore at pursued her on to a pavement and tried to squash her. Then she cycled through the park late at night, got shut in, hauled her bike over a 6ft fence and almost impaled herself climbing after it. But will she cycle more cautiously? No. She’s just rather proud of herself, for being so fit at 71.

She has a point. Most of us are much weedier. After several close shaves, poor Fielding suddenly bottled it years ago in the middle of a five-lane roundabout. He got off his bike and doddered to the kerb, never to cycle again. This country fails people like Fielding

Daughter insists that I be pleasant to cyclists, because they are saving the planet. Quite right. I never, ever, want to accidentally crash into one. I’m not a monster.

Fixing Mill Road

Mill Road in Cambridge is a key cycling route. It connects much of the heavily residential east of the city to the centre, and is crossed by routes to and from the railway station. It's also an important destination, with lots of local shops, restaurants, takeaways and with many fine pubs just off on the side streets.

It's also a traffic clogged hell hole. The street is generally narrow, often with both a narrow roadway and narrow footways. Despite this it carries heavy traffic, much of it through traffic from the outer ring road to the inner. Two roads to the south- Tenison Road and Coleridge Road- also carry through traffic, with speeds on the latter often being high.

To the north west of the road, in north Petersfield through motor traffic to Newmarket Road is prevented by barriers giving cycle access. There are also a couple of these in Romsey (the east side).

Most of the cycling and walking "problems" in Mill Road and the surrounding streets are due to this through traffic. So, rather than fiddling with road widening, or "shared space" concepts, I propose radical action. Lets stop the traffic.

The map shows the restrictions I'd put in. I'd also remove a couple of existing restrictions, such as on Argyle Street. The exact location of the restrictions can of course be altered- considerations such as turning space for motor vehicles need to be worked out. But the principle should stay as it is.
On Mill Road and Coleridge Road I've marked in "Bus Gates". Both these roads have bus routes, which provide vital links especially for the less mobile. The bus routes though are low enough frequency that I'd hope they won't be a problem, if there's much less private motor vehicle traffic. With the reduced traffic the bus operator should support such a scheme as it would make the bus journey times far more reliable!
I've left a point to be debated- should, as in the city centre, taxis (but not minicabs) be permitted. it's a contentious issue- again, taxis are especially useful for those with reduced mobility, even more so late evenings when buses are infrequent or non-existent. Blocking taxis would mean higher fares.