DraftTransportStrategyResponse

General comments:

Please substitute the word 'cycle' instead of 'bicycle' or 'bike' unless the point is explicitly intended to be restricted to '2 wheels only'. E.g. 'A fleet of pool bikes' should be changed to 'A fleet of pool cycles' so that it more clearly reflects the goal of inclusive cycling.

Phrases such as 'increase the number of' when applied to sustainable transport targets could be trivially satisfied by an increasing population of staff or students, therefore the use of this phrase should be replaced by 'increase the proportion of' instead, e.g. 'increase the proportion of staff using sustainable transport modes'.

• • • 5-year implementation plan:

In Table 1 under 'Cycling' please add to 'Audit existing estate to assess where there is a need to improve cycle links' the following text: ' and remove barriers to inclusive cycling'.

In Table 1 beneath 'Audit links from key locations and interchanges to major University sites." Add 'Work with councils and relevant stakeholders to improve cycle links based on audit' with boxes ticked for years 3, 4, and 5.

In Table 1 under 'General' please add item 'Engage with community and active community groups on University sites during policy development, estate audits, scheme design, and construction phases' with boxes ticked for all years.

In Table 1 under 'Travel at work' add ", and incorporate electric and cargo cycles" to the end of the parenthetical statement.

In Table 1 under 'Engagement and Promotion' add item 'Responding to planning applications at city, district and county level with the goal of finding and implementing opportunities to improve walking, cycling and public transport links.'

In Table 1 under 'Engagement and Promotion' add item 'Proactive negotiation and consultation with Colleges and other local stakeholders to enable land to be used for new or improved routes.'

In Table 2 under both 'Milton Road' and 'Histon Road' please modify the start of the description to read 'A key walking, cycling and public transport corridor for staff...'

In Table 2 please add a row for Initiative named 'Greenways' developed by 'GCP' with description 'Friendly and accessible walking and cycling routes between Cambridge and its necklace villages, providing important commuter links for University staff; several routes could directly connect to University sites' and priority 'High'.

In Table 2 please remove sentences containing 'route is not near University sites' for Chisholm Trail and Cross City Cycling Scheme entries. Both schemes will improve access to University sites, becoming key links in the journeys for many staff and students. In addition, the Cross City Cycling Scheme will be expanded in the future and there may be additional opportunities for improvement directly linked to University sites.

In Table 3 the target 'Maintain the modal share of car driver alone trips for staff travelling to work at 25% by 2022' could be misconstrued and should be replaced by 'The modal share of car driver alone trips for staff travelling to work should be no greater than 25% by 2022'.

In Table 6 'Key Performance Indicators' under 'Cycling' please add the following performance indicator: 'Number of people cycling, sampled over prototypical days within term, at various important links on the cycle network'.

• • • University of Cambridge Transport Strategy

In general:

Please use or add the word 'enable' wherever 'promote' or 'encourage' is used in connection with walking, cycling or public transport. Reason for this change: the words 'promote' or 'encourage' are not strong enough and could conceivably be satisfied with a minor public relations campaign that achieves nothing significant. ('We promoted cycling on busy roads but nobody seemed interested'). To 'enable' sustainable transport means that the University will make concrete decisions that open up real opportunities for more people.

Specific changes:

In the introduction, the 'Achievements to Date' graphic neglects to mention that University sites enjoy the highest rates of cycling in the country. It would be nice to mention that achievement, while not resting on our laurels.

In Table 2 under 'Working with other organisations' add the points:

• 'Working with Colleges, landowners, community groups and councils to

 bring forward proposals for new cycling routes that connect staff to
 University sites, looking for opportunities within the 17-mile
 radius that some staff currently cycle --- including to Newmarket,
 St Neots, Haverhill, and Ely.'

• 'Responding to planning applications within the commuting area of

 University staff to ensure that good public transport and cycling
 links to Cambridge are included.'

In Table 2 under 'New developments providing opportunities' we are concerned that the item that reads 'Co-locating University teaching and research functions will minimise distances travelled' is false because it implies that students would have to travel far away from the city centre to reach their teaching. Replace with 'Co-locating accommodation, teaching and research functions will minimise distances travelled'.

In section 4.2 point (3) change 'promotion of sustainable travel modes' to 'promotion and enabling of sustainable travel modes'

In section 4.2 please add the following objective: 'To engage with the community and active community groups on University sites during policy development, estate audits, scheme design, and construction phases'.

In section 5.2 change first sentence to: 'The University will promote and enable sustainable transport choices...'

In section 5.2 change third sentence to: 'Sustainable travel modes (cycling, walking, public transport and car sharing) will be promoted and enabled for travel to University sites'

In section 5.3 change second sentence to: 'For those trips where it is viable, the University will enable people to walk and cycle through provision of prioritised, segregated, inclusive, high-quality walking and cycling routes.'

Under 'Cycling Goals' add this sentence to the existing first point: 'All provided cycling infrastructure will be fully accessible to all people, using the cycle design standard as defined in Highways England Interim Advice Note 195/16 section 2.2.4.'

Under 'Cycling Goals' add this item to the list: 'Segregated cycling infrastructure means that walking, cycling and motor traffic are all separated from each other, and vulnerable road users are protected by a buffer from motor vehicles.'

Under 'Cycling Goals' add this item to the list: 'Design standards used by the University will incorporate best practices from modern design manuals such as the CROW Design Manual for Bicycle Traffic, Highways England Interim Advice Note 195/16, and the TfL London Cycling Design Standards, as well as consultation with local stakeholders and community groups.'

Under 'Walking Goals' add this sentence to the existing first point: 'All provided walking infrastructure will be fully accessible to all people, regardless of ability.'

Under 'Public Transport Goals' add this point: 'All provided public transport infrastructure will be fully accessible to all people, regardless of ability.'

Under 'Car access goals' add this point: 'The University will seek to enable staff to not need to own a car by enabling viable alternatives.' If staff find car ownership to be optional then they can make a substantial saving by not choosing to own a car. Without the large sunk cost of car ownership, usage-based pricing on car-hire or car-club is more attractive, and balances well with other transport alternatives.

Under 'Electric Vehicle Goals' add this point: 'Any incentives for electric car use will also be available for electrically-assisted cycle use.'

Under 'Travel at work to other University sites as part of the working day Goals' change "electric bikes and folding bikes" to "electric cycles, folding cycles, and cargo cycles".

In Table 3 under 'Public Transport' change 'Integrated ticketing allowing one ticket to be used for all bus services' to 'Integrated ticketing allowing one ticket to be used for all public transport services'. In the future we are looking forward to complete integration between all public transport modes (and for the time being things like PLUSBUS do exist).

In Table 3 under 'Public Transport' add point: 'Advocate for lower fares on public transport services.'

In Table 3 under 'Public Transport' add point: 'Work together with the Combined Authority to implement provisions of the Bus Services Act allowing greater local control and coordination of the public transport network.'

In Table 3 under 'Rail' add point: 'Advocate for coordination and integration of fares and schedules between the railway and bus networks, making connections between modes as seamless as possible.'

In Table 3 under "Car clubs" add point: 'Work with car clubs and car hire companies to find cost effective solutions for longer journeys including day and week hire'. Presently Zipcar is not cost effective for day trips or week long trips but traditional care hire firms are adversarial (trying to find and excuse to charge you extra) and inflexible (only open during restricted hours).

In Figure 4: (1) the Cambridge branch of the Great Northern railway seems to be missing and (2) 'Strategic links' drawn between the West Cambridge site and both the Barton-area and the Histon / Guided Busway-area are missing.