FAQs

The Madingley Road walking and cycling project aims to improve connectivity into the city and support greener modes of transport. The path is currently shared by pedestrians and cyclists. Building a new footway and separate cycleway would make the route more attractive, and most importantly, make it safer for pedestrians and cyclists. The improvements also aim to support a shift away from using private cars, which would result in reduced congestion in and around Cambridge city centre and subsequently reduced air pollution and improved air quality.

In 2020 we carried out a public consultation on two options to make walking and cycling along Madingley Road more attractive. Our board agreed in June 2020 to proceed with Option 2, which included a two-way cycleway on the north side of Madingley Road. Following discussions regarding the land needed and potential loss of trees, it is not possible for us to take this option forward. 

Our aim is to retain and complement the existing character of the road with proposed improvements where possible.

Proceeding with Option 1 of the original proposals (a one-way cycleway on both sides of Madingley Road), allows us to make improvements to Madingley Road whilst limiting the number of trees that would need to be lost. We are anticipating a loss of four trees but, subject to final design, we propose to plant new trees along the route.  

Once the engagement period ends, all public and stakeholder feedback will be analysed, and the findings will be presented to our board in a summary report which would be made available on our website.
Detailed design of the scheme would commence, subject to our board's approval, followed by construction which would start no earlier than 2026. This timescale is subject to change.

A floating bus stop has a segregated footway, cycleways and passenger waiting area. There is a crossing point over the cycleway between the footway and waiting area. The advantage of this arrangement is that people walking and using the bus have separate space from people cycling, and everyone is protected from motor traffic.

Several floating bus stops have already been implemented across the city, including on Hills Road, Histon Road and Milton Road.

The proposed one-way cycleways are generally 2.2m wide, one-way, and segregated by a ‘Cambridge kerb’. The one-way cycleways are proposed from Eddington Avenue to the Northampton Street / Queen's Road junction on both sides of the road.

A 'Cambridge kerb' is a concrete kerb section that has been constructed with a slight slope. This creates a 'softer' segregated cycle lane from the carriageway and creates a barrier for motorists straying into the cycle lane.

As part of the Madingley Road improvements, we are proposing the provision of eight controlled crossings along the route. Controlled crossings are a form of road crossing that gives priority to pedestrians and cycles. The crossings will be built with the appropriate tactile paving. The types of crossing will be finalised in the detailed design stage.

A Copenhagen crossing provides a continuation of the footway and / or cycleway across a minor side road junction, providing a clear visual priority to pedestrians and cyclists. This is achieved by including ramps, markings, colouration of surfaces and by ensuring that the corners are relatively tight to slow vehicles down.