tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4031352915519488668.post543023852228021362..comments2023-10-31T08:49:14.757+00:00Comments on Cambridge Cyclist: The Chisolm Trail. A great idea that misses the point?Cab Davidsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09019615820672574343noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4031352915519488668.post-72540073676451746482012-12-11T15:45:29.243+00:002012-12-11T15:45:29.243+00:00You're even more cynical than I am...You're even more cynical than I am...Cab Davidsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09019615820672574343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4031352915519488668.post-52637763459312778762012-12-11T15:20:08.490+00:002012-12-11T15:20:08.490+00:00"...the claustrophobically narrow Mill Road, ..."...the claustrophobically narrow Mill Road, on which Cambridgeshire Constabulary have publically given up policing the speed limit"<br /><br />That's because they're too busy cashing cyclists on pavements.sjuas690https://www.blogger.com/profile/09900166429588146878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4031352915519488668.post-45599623870243164672012-12-11T15:18:04.267+00:002012-12-11T15:18:04.267+00:00This comment has been removed by the author.sjuas690https://www.blogger.com/profile/09900166429588146878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4031352915519488668.post-35262360856953005502012-09-07T16:20:14.512+01:002012-09-07T16:20:14.512+01:00Please understand, I'm not opposing the Chisol...Please understand, I'm not opposing the Chisolm trail, merely hilighting the fact that while it connects SOME sites it doesn't fit comfortably with a view that cycling is a way of getting anywhere and everywhere. Road networks evolve in a way that links outlying routes to the centre, THEN we work towards producing bypasses and ringroads. Chisolm Trail does connect some important sites, and it (like the Guided Bus cycle route) is useful, but potential to grow cycling? Really? We're ignoring the City Centre entirely here; we're connecting a great Easterh bypass for cycling. We won't grow cycling in Cambridge by providing said bypass, we'll grow cycling by making the main routes people want to ride on safer.Cab Davidsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09019615820672574343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4031352915519488668.post-73897260194315133892012-09-07T14:58:15.813+01:002012-09-07T14:58:15.813+01:00Well, yes, I do want all routes to be safe, and to...Well, yes, I do want all routes to be safe, and toward that goal we have to start somewhere. Piecemeal upgrades aren't going to get new people cycling: whole car-free routes might. If we can get more of the non-cyclists on bikes, or increase the usage of nervous cyclists then we have much more support to continue to work towards a complete network.<br /><br />Where as if we give better on-road junction design to the existing cyclists then yes, it will be safer, but it doesn't provide any momentum for further improvements.<br /><br />And I disagree that it isn't an important route. There is substantial university presence and employment on the Addenbrookes site as well as the hospital and the Chisholm trail will make it much more attractive to cycle there.<br /><br />There is also, of course, substantial university employment on the West site, which is already partially served by the excellent Coton path. The fact that the university is the biggest employer doesn't mean everyone is trying to access the town centre.<br /><br />My biggest problem with Mill road is not cycling along it (which I avoid as much as possible through route planning) but cycling across it, which is harder to avoid without a very large detour onto roads which are just as bad. The Chisolm trail achieves this, which for me will be the single most valuable section of the trail.<br /><br />Any single improvement isn't helpful if it's not a journey you make. Short of upgrading everything at once, which will never happen, something has to go first. I think Chisholm is an excellent candidate, with potential to grow cycling rather than just make it better for the people who already do it. Hesterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01786445447447946710noreply@blogger.com