4.3.2 Pedestrian and cycle connectivity

I support delivery of the Chisholm trail for the improvement of cycle transportation around Cambridge. However proposals must also consider wider cycling patterns in the local area - in particular this should include how to lower the volume of cycling traffic across the narrow Mill Rd railway bridge, volume the Chisholm trail will only increase. Surely the Council should be seeking proposals for a cycle bridge linking Hooper St with the end of Cavendish Road as part of this development?

I object to the 3 cycle access points from Hooper Street onto the site.
a) The route chosen for the Chisholm trail is dangerous on two accounts. i) The chosen route will bring cyclists travelling north on the Chisholm Trail into conflict with motor vehicles using the workshops (including a car workshop) at the east end of Hooper Street. ii) The site lines are such that cyclists turning right out of Hooper Street into Ainsworth Street are likely to come into conflict with motorists turning right out of Ainsworth Street into Hooper Street.
b) These two issues will quickly lead to cyclists on the Chisholm Trail choosing to use the central cycle access point in Hooper Street as a safer route onto the Depot site and beyond, bringing cyclists into conflict with pedestrians at this point.
c) The great majority of cyclists arriving in Hooper Street do so from Gwydir Street and Sturton Street (NOT from Ainsworth Street). Consequently, the cycle access point through Hooper Street garages will effectively replace the cycle contraflow along Kingston Street, and is likely to become the busiest of the three access points. The dangers of having a large number of cyclists moving through the garages at peak times hardly needs to be spelt out.
None of this is necessary if the route chosen for the Chisholm Trail continues directly on from Ainsworth Street, and finds its way over to the railway at a more southerly point. This would then be the sole cycle access point from Hooper Street - it could also serve has the Emergency Vehicle Access for the Depot development that could continue to be used after the Hooper Street garages have gone.

The Chisholm Trail could run along the Boulevard / edge of Eagle Foundry Walk - especially as the trail comes down Ainsworth Street. This would help activate the public green open space in the centre of the site. A cycle route could cut diagonally across the site (through Mill Park, Gatehouse Court or The Limes), to increase cycle connectivity - this is common to a number of successful existing green open spaces in the city.

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