Mayor James Palmer calls on government to release funding for radical cycling upgrades

Mayor James Palmer calls on government to release funding for radical cycling upgrades

Mayor James Palmer, said:

“My absolute priority is to enable people across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough to get back to work and their lives as quickly and safely as possible.

“One thing that is so important to get right is transport. We are supporting businesses in creating plans for phased working times to reduce the amount of people moving across the region at one time.

“Whilst travelling by bus or train is likely to increase contact with others and therefore the spread of the virus, it also isn’t viable or desirable to have everyone make every journey by car.

“We have drawn up a plan to help more people to use bikes and other safe modes of travel to get around. I have been lobbying government for funding from a £250 million pot announced for upgrading cycling lanes and the provision of electric bikes and e-scooters and await further announcement on a release of funds that will allow us get on and deliver this for our region.”

Further information:

• Mayor James Palmer has submitted a bid for a share of £250 million funding to upgrade the region’s cycle infrastructure in response to the pandemic
• A draft strategy document has been drawn up by Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council, which includes a range of possible changes from the short to long term to encourage more cycling.
• The document shows the councils are considering a range of options to encourage more cycling, including reducing lanes on Peterborough’s dual carriageways, and restrictions on through routes available to cars in Cambridge city centre.
• In the long term, council officers are looking at large scale interventions, including rolling out more cycleways, expanding on existing routes, and converting roundabouts and junctions to give greater priority to cyclists and pedestrians.
• Other initiatives including a loan scheme for electric bikes, a cycle repair voucher scheme, widening cycle bridges over the River Cam, park and cycle schemes are being costed and assessed for viability.