A guy looked to be in his 70s cycled past me the other day. Same day younger people on mobility scooter terrorised the precinct were cyclists are expected to dismount.
As the Cycling Officer for Cambridge City Council for the latter part of the 20th Century, I can take some pride in what we achieved during that period. Starting from net zero cycling infrastructure, but a much higher than normal level of cycle usage, we pioneered the development of cycleways in ways that were unprecedented in the UK. Yes, it was more on the lines of evolution than revolution, but central government highway regulation was extremely resistant to change. Nonetheless we got permission to trial features and facilities that were very successful, and which subsequently became standard practice. Cambridge became known as the most progressive cycling city in the UK, and delegations came from all over the world to see what we were doing. It is true that, by comparison with the Dutch example, we lagged far behind. However, Cambridge is an ancient, densely populated city with narrow, winding streets; Amsterdam, on the other hand was much destroyed in WW2, and rebuilt on a modern, open street plan. Given its history and geography, I believe that Cambridge can be proud of what it has achieved in catering for cyclists, and its success in encouraging modal change in local transport.
Sorry to correct you here, but Amsterdam was not bombed in the war (Rotterdam was). Not to take away anything you have done and your right to point out building good cycling infrastructure is harder in an ancient city. In fact many cities in the Netherlands have better bikinginfrastructure than Amsterdam for this exact reason. You can still do a lot though and itvseems you have done so, so well done.
Dont believe the video. Cycling in Cambridge is terrible, pot holes, cobbles, narrow streets, idiot council's poorly planned cycle routes, moterized cyclists who cant ride in traffic, camakazy bus drivers, cars blocking in cyclists deliberately and at night majority of cyclists with no lights.
@@andrewthomas2406 Have you been robbed lately, by a man with a gun in his hand? That was you at the pump, with these record high gas prices. Cycling just cost 5.5 cents per mile and is healthy, keeps the air clean, keeps the noise levels down, also cyclists spend more money at local shops. Keep the local economy going.
Nice one! I live in the Netherlands and figured i'd never be able to go back to the UK now that I"m used to great cycling infrastructure. So nice to see that there are actually options!
Oh, how nice it would be to cycle to work, to the store, and to visit without someone feeling bad for me. My husband and I have been shopping and commuting by bike since 2006 or 2007, and we're still looked at as the odd ones. I do get lonely. My husband hasn't said, but I'll bet he'd be thrilled if even a quarter of my town's people used a bicycle as their main mode of transportation.
I feel sorry for people who still drive cars. Every time I see someone stuck on the side of the road with expensive, time consuming and debilitating engine problems, I feel grateful that I moved to a city that has public transport.
@@pizou8454 Sorry for the 6 month delay, but I didn't see this reply until now. The town I'm talking about is in the Midwest and has about 40,000 in population. I'm not saying people don't ride bikes, but the mentality is that cycling is for sport or pleasure. In the winter, you'd find almost no one on a bike.
Wonderful to see that places like that now exist in the UK and I hope it has improved further since this video was made! As I have lived in the UK for the past twenty years, but am from Copenhagen, whish is VERY bicycle friendly, it is nice to see that friendly bicycle mentality has spread to other countries.
Even when I grew up in Cambridge in the 1970's it was cycling city on a par with Amsterdam. Nice to see these new initiatives to keep it that way. Good work!
So smart. With luck and perseverance, the city will approach Dutch levels of bicycle happiness. Good luck to Cambridge. Ottawa is way behind, although we are way ahead of a lot of places. Clearly it is the Netherlands who have figured out the pattern, psychology, and legal framework to make a sensible, affordable, and enjoyable future. One which includes a lot of bicycles.
I've watched a number of these Street films and I was interested in this one because as I watched other films there seems to be very little in the way of conflict portrayed, and the same was the case here - but I know from living in Cambridge that there is a lot of conflict on the streets so clearly clips were used which didn't show vehicle traffic which makes the picture rosier than it really is. I hope people watching this could also see the difference between the the rather small amount of dedicated infrastructure available vs in other cities - in Netherlands or in say Vancouver. True to Darwin, it's been (slow) evolution here, not Revolution. And really good point about the fact that it's students not having cars, and staying on here after graduation, that creates the cycling tradition and Culture
but, but, but ... this only works in The Netherlands ... and other excuses used around the world. Obviously, since Cambridge hasn't used such an excuse, Cambridge was not aware of The Netherlands.
Brilliant - brilliant. I had been a competition cyclist in the UK in my youth ( 70+ now ) but from around the age of ten, I cycled everywhere, daily. This is a wonderfully upbeat video showing how far ahead Cambridge is on this important issue, and it is great to see. Well done and thanks for posting ( a few years ago now I see :) )
I think it's great that cities are shifting towards cycling. Just wish it wasn't just the cities. There are lots of towns that are just dangerous for cyclists.
Yep, and people need to understand that even in rural places or for long distances, cycling should can and should still be an option. Building more "bicycle highway" like the ravels in Wallonia would be so cool. They are located on old railway lines so they have a lot of bridges and separation from cars, go right through the hearts of villages and towns, and the gentle inclines and curves mean you can make a lot of distance quickly and without getting tired.
Ex pat brit here in Bogo City Cebu Philippines. I have been here since 2005. I lived and worked in Peterborough for the ambulance service in and out of Addenbrookes weekly if not daily - Wow Cambridge almost un recognizable! Wonderful! At 68 i still ride my MTB daily! The drivers here are manic, but with care and defensive riding i survive!
Love cycling but it’s glorious when the weather is fine but when it’s wet, cold and windy no fun. Cambridge looks great to cycle. Better protection from traffic than where I live, but also need to think about the security and proper locking fixed frames to lock it to.
I’ve just been there for a few days and loved it compared to where I live where cyclists are hated. But to be honest, it didn’t seem to me as if there had been any significant progress made in the last 4 years. Which is a huge shame that they’re not capitalising on their lead and pushing ahead.
Chris, I couldn’t agree more. I Commute by bike in Cambridge every day and quite frankly most of the roads are f****** appalling. They need to take the cycling and turbo charge it. Get EVERY car off the road. MAKE people cycle. So many people at work (especially women) say “I can’t cycle I’m too afraid of cars” and they are justified in that. GET RID OF THE CARS!
Jack Glossop Where I rode from the hotel in the north west, I took the long busway route which was awesome, and then rode along the river path and then through the city. Compared to Worthing, it felt like there were no cars at all relatively speaking. But obviously I’m going to choose the best paths since I don’t live there. There’s work to do and yeah get rid of all the remaining cars. Was super cool to see so many cargo bikes in particular. Have never seen one here. Saw one in Brighton once or twice but that’s it.
Progress is very slow, and it's amazingly hard work to get good quality stuff built even in Cambridge. We've built the whole station area in the last 4 years and that's been a cycling disaster, which is just embarassing! On the other hand we've had Hills Rd 'Cambridge kerb' segregated route - absolutely brilliant, and new segregated routes on Fulbourn Rd and Arbury Rd, Chery Hinton High St has been imporved (some) over terrible 1990's infrastructure, a whole new section of town 'Eddington' which has good quality largely segregated and off-road routes, and the first 'Dutch' segregated route roundabout is being built (pretty much outside my house!), and a bit multi-million pound 'Greenways' project to build 12 radial routes to decent standards. www.greatercambridge.org.uk/transport/transport-projects/greenways, and the Chisholm Trail right across town with a new river Bridge is under construction. On the other hand, Queen Edith's Way cycleways were canned (for 3 years so far) due residents being stirred up against it, and attempts to limit motor traffic have so far failed to get political traction, and there is still lots of stuff that is just paint, or falling apart, or has stupid barriers. So there _is_ progress, but there is also obstruction, and quite often low standards in comparison to the Netherlands or London (although pretty good for most of the hopeless UK). I hope the climate emergency will help focus minds, and I know our current public transport/congestion disaster is something people really want to fix, but getting people out of their cars, and removing parking is amazingly hard work, and transitioning transport systems is difficult and expensive.
Of course Cambridge. In the Netherlands it was Groningen with its verkeerscirculatieplan (traffic circulation plan) univercity city, loads of young people. I have been cycling in cambridge in 1990. It was a bit scary, not because of the traffic, but because of riding on the side of the road I was not used to. (And now completely off topic, I went out into the countryside and It was as if I had been beemd into Hollland. Grass cows and meadows not separated by fences but by "sloten" (water for which I don't know the word of)
Great to see Cambridge doing well :) As a dutch guy I wonder, how far does the cycle infrastructure extend beyond Cambridge itself? Does it include nearby towns? Does it reach the next city over? Cambridge could the impulse the surrounding area needs to adopt a cycle friendly atmosphere. As a positive oilspill, if you will :)
Social engineering anyone?? It just so happens that i like this idea. I lived in Houston, tx for 2 years and all the car traffic is just awful. People fly down neighborhood streets at 60mph. The bicycle could change all that.
@@NicholasLittlejohn And from a distance it also seems like there is a great deal of romanticism surrounding cars in the US. No doubt helped a little by decades of smart marketing... But that will be an obstacle as well to improving city life by restricting car access.
Social engineering is simply a tool. You can use it to make lives of everyone involved worse in the name of getting rid of the homeless (i.e uncomfortable benches) or make streets safer
Maybe Cambridge is the Cyclists' Capitol for its numbers, but sure as hell not for its cycling infrastructure. Painting a couple of bicycles on the pavement is hardly anyone from the Netherlands would call 'cycling infrastructure'... And seeing adults on kid bikes wearing helmets, that's just daft!!!
Cambridge may not have cycle infrastructure that’s comparable to the Netherlands, but it a good deal better than anywhere also in the country! The key thing with Cambridge is that the infrastructure is a connected network - here in London we do have a fair amount of infrastructure, but due to lack of central planning and coordination, none of it is connected, and so it’s all basically useless. Cambridge actually has a continuous network.
It looks like the speed reduction helps a lot, though. And having routes with extra lights and few cars for bicycles is also great. Also it looks like there are quite some places to lock your bicycle. With only 7 kilometers from one to the other side riding by bike is optimal I think.
@@mourlyvold7655 Mourly, you will love this one from Netherlands ruclips.net/video/swqaAIkGtpA/видео.html and this one about Oulu ruclips.net/video/Uhx-26GfCBU/видео.html
@@user-vh1sh1xl5k Thank you, brother. I saw both of these videos, they're great. In fact I am from the Netherlands. I have lived in Utrecht for a few years, were much of the first video was shot. I know these places well. I've lived this reality that seems like a dream for many. I'm grateful for it. If ever you come this way, let me know. We'll have a beer 😊 Enjoy the ride!
I think Birmingham seems to be the worst place to bike. Lots of 40 mph roads (like mini motorways almost) that you have to merge to get where you want to go. There are lots of driving situations that you just don't have the power you need on a bicycle. To be honest if you don't know where you're going, you feel rushed in a car there. London seems comparatively calm as it's usually ground to a halt. Hereford has a few busy roads but the speeds are generally lower compared to Birmingham.
@Kudosbudo and sometimes you can't see the turn arrows on the road because they are clogged up with cars. Though usually this is only a problem deciphering ahead + left turn with left only, or ahead and right turn with right turn only.
It is sad that despite the popularity of bicycles in Cambridge, the city or the UK still does not think it is necessary to protect bike lanes and intersections/junctions when cars, lorries, buses use the same road. The attitude of the authority is shocking.
“Almost on par with Amsterdam”?.? ...way out. Have a look at any Dutch city...see Amsterdam railway station bike park.... but a great start. Well done Cambridge.
Try an e-bike. And just cause its not ideal for every location doesn't mean you shouldn't do it at all. A save infrastructure that caters to all is the way of the future. Children, the elderly, the poor and disabled people should be mobile as well.
The cars are crazy here where I live . Ky . I wish they would make away for us to ride our bikes to work & every where else. It's just to dangerous here.
No specific name - it allows two way cycle traffic; prevents motor traffic during the day with raised bollards; but allows one-way motor traffic when the bollards are lowered in the evening.
@@cb235 It's also a good idea to wear one in the bathroom. More serious head trauma by slipping in the shower than cycling on a well designed bike path. At least in the Netherlands, as shown by hospital records...
The basis has been created. Every main road redevelopment (usually about every 20 years) will reallocate space to the amount of use. I detect still many ways to improve the city mobility from the road layouts in this report. Improvements which will make people more and more happy with their inner-city. The claimed "close to Amsterdam", however, is really overdone (and Amsterdam is one of the worst Dutch cities to cycle)
Not compulsory. Just a good idea cos we need all teh protection we can get on UK roads. Many drivers literally hate cyclists to the point they will try to run us off the road worse case scenario. And our cars run red lights way more than cycles despite what they would have you believe (literally saw a dude run a red in his car tonight about an hour ago!) So a lot of us wear them. If i'm not on the roads and on canal path i'll keep mine off unless i'm going really fast or at teh pump track/skatepark.
Why is the majority of people in the UK so militant anti-cycling? Especially with the cities drowning in traffic and the narrow, aging infrastructure it would be the perfect relief. It's almost like most of the population need justification for blowing money on a flashy car and then getting pissed off by people who don't waste their money and lifetime on that metal box.
Weirdly we have a lot of roads in yorkshire between towns that are mostly car free. They often go over moors or bypass much faster traffic heavy roads so its possible to get around in north yorkshire and west yorkshire without riding on busy roads. Would be nice though if they converted disused railway lines to cycle paths. Would allow for some far more direct roots between small villages and towns whcih used to have rail networks but lost them.
I love the videos except for the constant intrusions of the loud insipid synth-pop. I'd really like to hear what the people are saying. Please leave off the elementary-school of film sound bed of annoyance.
@@hendman4083 Not everywhere. I live near plenty of places where there are already narrow road and people are used to speed there. If you narrow even more those roads bigger vehicles won't be able to get through.
19% of traffic is cycling in central London. That's not 'no-one'. It's more like 2.5% over London as a whole, but it's very lumpy. It's 8-10% in the good bits (Camden, Waltham Forest). content.tfl.gov.uk/travel-in-london-report-11.pdf
@@christopherisherwood4967 Two reasons, first, helmets only give a false sense of security. When a car user spots a cyclist he is aware that fact. Sadly in most cases the distance of passing DECREASES when a helmet is used. That means you are MORE vulnerable. The second thing, helmets have an inhibiting factor: Less people cycle when a helmet is made mandatory. Yes, a helmet can prevent certain injuries, it is for that reason helmets are usually used when sport competition, it is even mandatory. In car-cyclists accidents rarely loss of life can be prevented by a helmet.
This is the best Britain can do!? It looks like the places i have to cycle in many American cities, dangerous and under developed. The city planners sound like they think it is the numbers of cyclists that effect change in infrastructure, when in reality it is a "build it, and they will come" situation. What do they expect? Hoards of bicycles on the road will make the people more inclined to accommodate bicycles!?
OMG! Only one way in or out! That would not fly in the USA with the police and emergency people. What if there's a terrorist attack? How can they justify their huge vehicle and manpower budgets. Yeah the culture needs to change here.
Well done for trying Cambridge but you're not in the same league as the Netherlands... actually try to give cyclists a completely separate road to cars like the Dutch have.
My apologies for the rather rude remarks of my fellow countryman. Cambridge looks great in this video. Can't imagine that town centre full of cars, queueing to find a parking spot. Noisy, smelly, dangerous lumps of heavy metal.
There is no need for that if you can reduce the number and speed of cars. Most Dutch 30km/h roads have no bicycle lanes. Other calm roads usually have a cycle lane, busy roads have cycle paths. Often in red tarmac.
I think the OP is referring to the painted bike lanes shown a couple of times in this video. Those seem to run alongside very busy car lanes, with the cars going at considerable speed.
Why do all these procycling videos always show cyclers on their bikes in the lovely , dry sunny weather? Never the reality of the UK weather, cold wet and windy which is a major hurdle to get people on a bike. Not all UK cities are flat, Belfast where I am is hilly and have of it is up a mountain. Cycling isn't always the solution for most people.
Well my video I went for 3 days and this is what it was like. It is also very hard to get people to talk outside when it is pouring rain. You are free to make your own film chronicling what you'd like to see of course.
waow ! The roads look so horrible 😂 I have some contries on the top of my head, who does a better job with the roads... The Nederlands, Denmark, Sweden 😀
What a load of bollocks! And it's only going to get worse. How many years did it take to film, not one person walking in the way of someone on a bike. If by any chance if another is vid is made, how about having someone from Cambridge in it!
Ok. I love my bicycle and my new electric scooter. But i also love my car. Equally. I dont like this anti car feeling im getting from this video. I love cycling, but dont give me this attitude, just because i also enjoy driving. Cause if you do, you will loose me altogether. I suspect many drivers will feel the same.
Theres nothing anti car. Use your car as intended. To move loads or go for long trips. I use my car to get to mountain bike and bmx pump tracks. But i'm all for cars being banned completely from certain areas. I'd never drive into a big city. I'd get public trasport and take my bike. it just makes more sense.
The place is not safe as a pedestrian. A large proportion of cyclists need to learn the highway code and a low percentage invest in lights. You take you life in your hands walking in Cambridge.
It's sad that so many millions of people have, for so many decades, been subjected to car culture, ruining city design.
A guy looked to be in his 70s cycled past me the other day. Same day younger people on mobility scooter terrorised the precinct were cyclists are expected to dismount.
I think it's just laziness induced by the culture of capitalism/consumerism. Everyone should be cycling in flat cities.
@@cyberhermit1222 Everyone should have the safe option of cycling, not just those in flat cities. Hills can be very fun.
@@cyberhermit1222 ridiculous comment,the car is king,cycling is for saddos
@@yorkshirehousewife784 Yes...but there's no excuse for not cycling in a flat city....as opposed to Halifax.
As the Cycling Officer for Cambridge City Council for the latter part of the 20th Century, I can take some pride in what we achieved during that period.
Starting from net zero cycling infrastructure, but a much higher than normal level of cycle usage, we pioneered the development of cycleways in ways that were unprecedented in the UK.
Yes, it was more on the lines of evolution than revolution, but central government highway regulation was extremely resistant to change.
Nonetheless we got permission to trial features and facilities that were very successful, and which subsequently became standard practice.
Cambridge became known as the most progressive cycling city in the UK, and delegations came from all over the world to see what we were doing.
It is true that, by comparison with the Dutch example, we lagged far behind. However, Cambridge is an ancient, densely populated city with narrow, winding streets; Amsterdam, on the other hand was much destroyed in WW2, and rebuilt on a modern, open street plan.
Given its history and geography, I believe that Cambridge can be proud of what it has achieved in catering for cyclists, and its success in encouraging modal change in local transport.
Don't rest on your laurels, carry on with the good work of building more safe infrastructure!
Sorry to correct you here, but Amsterdam was not bombed in the war (Rotterdam was). Not to take away anything you have done and your right to point out building good cycling infrastructure is harder in an ancient city. In fact many cities in the Netherlands have better bikinginfrastructure than Amsterdam for this exact reason. You can still do a lot though and itvseems you have done so, so well done.
Excellent Cambridge, I salute you. It looks just like the Netherlands. Now the rest of Britain please.
Dont believe the video. Cycling in Cambridge is terrible, pot holes, cobbles, narrow streets, idiot council's poorly planned cycle routes, moterized cyclists who cant ride in traffic, camakazy bus drivers, cars blocking in cyclists deliberately and at night majority of cyclists with no lights.
Agreed. The Netherlands in like the 90s so you still have some work to do, but yeah, still better than rest of the country's efforts thus far.
The Dutch road design looks very different
no,cycling should be for children,once you are old enoughto get a car or motorbike licence then you should get one,
@@andrewthomas2406 Have you been robbed lately, by a man with a gun in his hand? That was you at the pump, with these record high gas prices.
Cycling just cost 5.5 cents per mile and is healthy, keeps the air clean, keeps the noise levels down, also cyclists spend more money at local shops. Keep the local economy going.
Nice one! I live in the Netherlands and figured i'd never be able to go back to the UK now that I"m used to great cycling infrastructure. So nice to see that there are actually options!
Oh, how nice it would be to cycle to work, to the store, and to visit without someone feeling bad for me. My husband and I have been shopping and commuting by bike since 2006 or 2007, and we're still looked at as the odd ones. I do get lonely. My husband hasn't said, but I'll bet he'd be thrilled if even a quarter of my town's people used a bicycle as their main mode of transportation.
What town is this? Cycling is increasing across the country. There's more of us.
I feel sorry for people who still drive cars. Every time I see someone stuck on the side of the road with expensive, time consuming and debilitating engine problems, I feel grateful that I moved to a city that has public transport.
@@pizou8454 Sorry for the 6 month delay, but I didn't see this reply until now. The town I'm talking about is in the Midwest and has about 40,000 in population. I'm not saying people don't ride bikes, but the mentality is that cycling is for sport or pleasure. In the winter, you'd find almost no one on a bike.
@@julzkind4022 I guess this all changed now with the virus. 😆
Well done Cambridge, I'm glad to have been a part of that for 3 years while studying in Anglia Ruskin University.
Cambridge im proud of you.
Greetz from a Dutchy, great job :)
Now you only have to get rid of those plastic hats haha
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As a Dutchie i loved cycling in Cambridge!
Wonderful to see that places like that now exist in the UK and I hope it has improved further since this video was made! As I have lived in the UK for the past twenty years, but am from Copenhagen, whish is VERY bicycle friendly, it is nice to see that friendly bicycle mentality has spread to other countries.
Even when I grew up in Cambridge in the 1970's it was cycling city on a par with Amsterdam. Nice to see these new initiatives to keep it that way. Good work!
So smart. With luck and perseverance, the city will approach Dutch levels of bicycle happiness. Good luck to Cambridge. Ottawa is way behind, although we are way ahead of a lot of places. Clearly it is the Netherlands who have figured out the pattern, psychology, and legal framework to make a sensible, affordable, and enjoyable future. One which includes a lot of bicycles.
I just hope the rest of the UK will follow in Cambridge's footsteps someday.
What a wonderful place
I've watched a number of these Street films and I was interested in this one because as I watched other films there seems to be very little in the way of conflict portrayed, and the same was the case here - but I know from living in Cambridge that there is a lot of conflict on the streets so clearly clips were used which didn't show vehicle traffic which makes the picture rosier than it really is.
I hope people watching this could also see the difference between the the rather small amount of dedicated infrastructure available vs in other cities - in Netherlands or in say Vancouver. True to Darwin, it's been (slow) evolution here, not Revolution.
And really good point about the fact that it's students not having cars, and staying on here after graduation, that creates the cycling tradition and Culture
but, but, but ... this only works in The Netherlands ... and other excuses used around the world.
Obviously, since Cambridge hasn't used such an excuse, Cambridge was not aware of The Netherlands.
*Wim Ahlers* Can you read? It says 'Britians cycle capital'
Wim Ahlers says:
"but, but, but.."
==
I thought Cambridge was in Netherlands after watching this.
Never heard of the town before.
lol
Niet zeuren Wim ze doen het heel goed zeker als je kijkt naar Londen
@@dimrrider9133
satire
@@wimahlers boefje haha
Brilliant - brilliant. I had been a competition cyclist in the UK in my youth ( 70+ now ) but from around the age of ten, I cycled everywhere, daily. This is a wonderfully upbeat video showing how far ahead Cambridge is on this important issue, and it is great to see. Well done and thanks for posting ( a few years ago now I see :) )
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Do you still cycle, sir?
This gives me hope!
I think it's great that cities are shifting towards cycling. Just wish it wasn't just the cities. There are lots of towns that are just dangerous for cyclists.
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Yep, and people need to understand that even in rural places or for long distances, cycling should can and should still be an option. Building more "bicycle highway" like the ravels in Wallonia would be so cool. They are located on old railway lines so they have a lot of bridges and separation from cars, go right through the hearts of villages and towns, and the gentle inclines and curves mean you can make a lot of distance quickly and without getting tired.
Well done Cambridge! For the rest of the UK; copy paste. Regards from the Netherlands a I will visit you soon and we'll take our bikes with us.
:-) This makes me happy. ~ happy Dutchie
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I went there last week and shoot some videos, too
Check out my new travel channel, please
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Ex pat brit here in Bogo City Cebu Philippines. I have been here since 2005. I lived and worked in Peterborough for the ambulance service in and out of Addenbrookes weekly if not daily - Wow Cambridge almost un recognizable! Wonderful! At 68 i still ride my MTB daily! The drivers here are manic, but with care and defensive riding i survive!
Love cycling but it’s glorious when the weather is fine but when it’s wet, cold and windy no fun.
Cambridge looks great to cycle. Better protection from traffic than where I live, but also need to think about the security and proper locking fixed frames to lock it to.
I’ve just been there for a few days and loved it compared to where I live where cyclists are hated. But to be honest, it didn’t seem to me as if there had been any significant progress made in the last 4 years. Which is a huge shame that they’re not capitalising on their lead and pushing ahead.
Chris, I couldn’t agree more. I Commute by bike in Cambridge every day and quite frankly most of the roads are f****** appalling. They need to take the cycling and turbo charge it. Get EVERY car off the road. MAKE people cycle. So many people at work (especially women) say “I can’t cycle I’m too afraid of cars” and they are justified in that. GET RID OF THE CARS!
Jack Glossop Where I rode from the hotel in the north west, I took the long busway route which was awesome, and then rode along the river path and then through the city. Compared to Worthing, it felt like there were no cars at all relatively speaking. But obviously I’m going to choose the best paths since I don’t live there. There’s work to do and yeah get rid of all the remaining cars.
Was super cool to see so many cargo bikes in particular. Have never seen one here. Saw one in Brighton once or twice but that’s it.
Progress is very slow, and it's amazingly hard work to get good quality stuff built even in Cambridge. We've built the whole station area in the last 4 years and that's been a cycling disaster, which is just embarassing! On the other hand we've had Hills Rd 'Cambridge kerb' segregated route - absolutely brilliant, and new segregated routes on Fulbourn Rd and Arbury Rd, Chery Hinton High St has been imporved (some) over terrible 1990's infrastructure, a whole new section of town 'Eddington' which has good quality largely segregated and off-road routes, and the first 'Dutch' segregated route roundabout is being built (pretty much outside my house!), and a bit multi-million pound 'Greenways' project to build 12 radial routes to decent standards. www.greatercambridge.org.uk/transport/transport-projects/greenways, and the Chisholm Trail right across town with a new river Bridge is under construction.
On the other hand, Queen Edith's Way cycleways were canned (for 3 years so far) due residents being stirred up against it, and attempts to limit motor traffic have so far failed to get political traction, and there is still lots of stuff that is just paint, or falling apart, or has stupid barriers.
So there _is_ progress, but there is also obstruction, and quite often low standards in comparison to the Netherlands or London (although pretty good for most of the hopeless UK). I hope the climate emergency will help focus minds, and I know our current public transport/congestion disaster is something people really want to fix, but getting people out of their cars, and removing parking is amazingly hard work, and transitioning transport systems is difficult and expensive.
Great vid..... Makes me want to move to Cambridge.
Of course Cambridge. In the Netherlands it was Groningen with its verkeerscirculatieplan (traffic circulation plan) univercity city, loads of young people. I have been cycling in cambridge in 1990. It was a bit scary, not because of the traffic, but because of riding on the side of the road I was not used to. (And now completely off topic, I went out into the countryside and It was as if I had been beemd into Hollland. Grass cows and meadows not separated by fences but by "sloten" (water for which I don't know the word of)
Well the Netherlands were not that far away from you really, just the other side of the North Sea and the same latitude.
Great to see Cambridge doing well :) As a dutch guy I wonder, how far does the cycle infrastructure extend beyond Cambridge itself? Does it include nearby towns? Does it reach the next city over? Cambridge could the impulse the surrounding area needs to adopt a cycle friendly atmosphere. As a positive oilspill, if you will :)
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I went there last week and shoot some videos, too
Check out my new travel channel, please
ruclips.net/channel/UCJsfB05DVh-0jA5tb5nrw2w
😊 thanks
@@leonh67 You're starting to appear a spammer, bro. Take it down a notch, will you?
Social engineering anyone?? It just so happens that i like this idea. I lived in Houston, tx for 2 years and all the car traffic is just awful. People fly down neighborhood streets at 60mph. The bicycle could change all that.
I feel it's political. Texas is beholden to oil profits.
@@NicholasLittlejohn And from a distance it also seems like there is a great deal of romanticism surrounding cars in the US. No doubt helped a little by decades of smart marketing... But that will be an obstacle as well to improving city life by restricting car access.
Aren't children in those neighbourhoods getting killed by cars en masse?
Social engineering is simply a tool. You can use it to make lives of everyone involved worse in the name of getting rid of the homeless (i.e uncomfortable benches) or make streets safer
@@LMvdB02 Children in the american suburbs don't get out onto the streets. They only see the street when riding their school bus or mom's van.
Maybe Cambridge is the Cyclists' Capitol for its numbers, but sure as hell not for its cycling infrastructure. Painting a couple of bicycles on the pavement is hardly anyone from the Netherlands would call 'cycling infrastructure'... And seeing adults on kid bikes wearing helmets, that's just daft!!!
You have to start somewhere
Cambridge may not have cycle infrastructure that’s comparable to the Netherlands, but it a good deal better than anywhere also in the country! The key thing with Cambridge is that the infrastructure is a connected network - here in London we do have a fair amount of infrastructure, but due to lack of central planning and coordination, none of it is connected, and so it’s all basically useless. Cambridge actually has a continuous network.
It looks like the speed reduction helps a lot, though. And having routes with extra lights and few cars for bicycles is also great. Also it looks like there are quite some places to lock your bicycle.
With only 7 kilometers from one to the other side riding by bike is optimal I think.
It looks great! If I couldn't see the building style I'd have thought it's a Dutch city.
4:36
Great idea!!
Would love an update on this!
nice video... nice city with bicycle transportation. *love it
Great to see elderly cycling!
And children. But I agree, when you see this happening you know you accomplished something of value.
@@mourlyvold7655 Mourly, you will love this one from Netherlands
ruclips.net/video/swqaAIkGtpA/видео.html
and this one about Oulu
ruclips.net/video/Uhx-26GfCBU/видео.html
@@user-vh1sh1xl5k Thank you, brother.
I saw both of these videos, they're great.
In fact I am from the Netherlands. I have lived in Utrecht for a few years, were much of the first video was shot. I know these places well.
I've lived this reality that seems like a dream for many. I'm grateful for it.
If ever you come this way, let me know. We'll have a beer 😊
Enjoy the ride!
I think Birmingham seems to be the worst place to bike. Lots of 40 mph roads (like mini motorways almost) that you have to merge to get where you want to go. There are lots of driving situations that you just don't have the power you need on a bicycle. To be honest if you don't know where you're going, you feel rushed in a car there. London seems comparatively calm as it's usually ground to a halt. Hereford has a few busy roads but the speeds are generally lower compared to Birmingham.
👍👍👍👍👍
I went there last week and shoot some videos, too
Check out my new travel channel, please
ruclips.net/channel/UCJsfB05DVh-0jA5tb5nrw2w
😊 thanks
Sounds like driving in Bradford. 20 mph roads linke dtogether with 40mph and 50mph roads. And more lane sthan you can shake a directionless duck at.
@Kudosbudo and sometimes you can't see the turn arrows on the road because they are clogged up with cars. Though usually this is only a problem deciphering ahead + left turn with left only, or ahead and right turn with right turn only.
It is sad that despite the popularity of bicycles in Cambridge, the city or the UK still does not think it is necessary to protect bike lanes and intersections/junctions when cars, lorries, buses use the same road. The attitude of the authority is shocking.
“Almost on par with Amsterdam”?.? ...way out. Have a look at any Dutch city...see Amsterdam railway station bike park.... but a great start. Well done Cambridge.
Cambridge station has a multi story bike park, despite being10% of the size of amsterdam
To ride my bike safely, I need to strap it on my car and drive 20 minutes to a bike path that goes in a 9-mile circle.
I wish usa was a friendly cycling city.
👍👍👍👍👍
I went there last week and shoot some videos, too
Check out my new travel channel, please
ruclips.net/channel/UCJsfB05DVh-0jA5tb5nrw2w
😊 thanks
Way to go Cambridge! Keep up the good work.
What about security when parking a bicycle in Cambridge . theft had become a huge issue .
That's how most Malaysian cities were like between the 1930s and early 1970s.
Oh interesting! Didn't know Malaysia was a cycling place.
Well it is as flat as a pancake too! East Anglia is flat so cycling is easier, try that in the Pennines!
Try an e-bike. And just cause its not ideal for every location doesn't mean you shouldn't do it at all. A save infrastructure that caters to all is the way of the future. Children, the elderly, the poor and disabled people should be mobile as well.
Live in Scotland, I'm not about to cycle up a mountain but can't think of a single city where cycling wouldn't be doable.
The cars are crazy here where I live . Ky . I wish they would make away for us to ride our bikes to work & every where else. It's just to dangerous here.
Very nice video. It is a pity you did not show how cyclists are riding in Cambrige during the rain. Is it raining often in Cambridge?
They ride just the same except they put raincoats on, the same as everyone else in the UK when it rains lol!
Obviously it does rain, but Cambridge is in the lowest rainfall area of GB, I think. I live about 9 miles out and we get about 25" a year.
Amazing that they have enough urban zebras to need dedicated crossings for them!
Just incredible
Hahaha. I just spat out my coffee. Thanks for that! 😜
Does anyone know if there is a specific term for the type of road/street at 2:29? Is it called a 2-1 road?
No specific name - it allows two way cycle traffic; prevents motor traffic during the day with raised bollards; but allows one-way motor traffic when the bollards are lowered in the evening.
Good, more of this please.
PS: So many helmets, is it dangerous to bicycle in Cambridge?
Yes it is!
@@ado543 Helmets would seem to reduce public healthcare costs if they have single payer.
no, its just a good idea to always wear one anywhere you cycle
It looks more unsafe, at the end of the video they do say they want to segregate cycling a lot further
@@cb235 It's also a good idea to wear one in the bathroom. More serious head trauma by slipping in the shower than cycling on a well designed bike path. At least in the Netherlands, as shown by hospital records...
So many people in this video need to raise their seat posts. They'll immediately be like, "Oh shit, this is way easier."
GREAT!! Going the wrong way in Market Street, didn't point that out!
Everyone’s got the Netherlands style bicycles
Bike future = Great future...
Thanks you for this video.I want to look Cambridge city 2020 ? When can ? Thanks you again
How about Oxford?
Use a city or be in a city, it’s a choice
The basis has been created. Every main road redevelopment (usually about every 20 years) will reallocate space to the amount of use. I detect still many ways to improve the city mobility from the road layouts in this report. Improvements which will make people more and more happy with their inner-city. The claimed "close to Amsterdam", however, is really overdone (and Amsterdam is one of the worst Dutch cities to cycle)
Isnt helmet compulsory in the UK?
Not compulsory. Just a good idea cos we need all teh protection we can get on UK roads. Many drivers literally hate cyclists to the point they will try to run us off the road worse case scenario. And our cars run red lights way more than cycles despite what they would have you believe (literally saw a dude run a red in his car tonight about an hour ago!)
So a lot of us wear them.
If i'm not on the roads and on canal path i'll keep mine off unless i'm going really fast or at teh pump track/skatepark.
Why is the majority of people in the UK so militant anti-cycling? Especially with the cities drowning in traffic and the narrow, aging infrastructure it would be the perfect relief. It's almost like most of the population need justification for blowing money on a flashy car and then getting pissed off by people who don't waste their money and lifetime on that metal box.
With how good the infrastructure is in cambridge I'm thinking of moving there in a few years. Seems like a lovely place
Almost like Amsterdam...Huh? Cambridge should aim like Groningen or Leiden...
thought its Yorkshire
Weirdly we have a lot of roads in yorkshire between towns that are mostly car free. They often go over moors or bypass much faster traffic heavy roads so its possible to get around in north yorkshire and west yorkshire without riding on busy roads.
Would be nice though if they converted disused railway lines to cycle paths. Would allow for some far more direct roots between small villages and towns whcih used to have rail networks but lost them.
Cambridge discovered the bakfiets
Cambridge has won the Netherlands look a like award 🏆🥳 well done
Amber Frye?
I love the videos except for the constant intrusions of the loud insipid synth-pop. I'd really like to hear what the people are saying. Please leave off the elementary-school of film sound bed of annoyance.
When you invading amurkeiaywhoahao?
7:30 I live the speed camera with the marks on the road. Very effective.
It would be much better to redesign the street to fit the allowed maximum speed.
@@hendman4083 Not everywhere. I live near plenty of places where there are already narrow road and people are used to speed there. If you narrow even more those roads bigger vehicles won't be able to get through.
@@paolagrando5079 07:00 Nothing has been done about the road design for this road to reduce speeds, apart from putting up a maximum speed sign.
@@hendman4083 I was talking in general.
If you want to go from one side of London to the other the quickest way is by bike - it’s just more dangerous, so no one does it.
19% of traffic is cycling in central London. That's not 'no-one'. It's more like 2.5% over London as a whole, but it's very lumpy. It's 8-10% in the good bits (Camden, Waltham Forest). content.tfl.gov.uk/travel-in-london-report-11.pdf
I feel at home.
What do you call a bakfiets in English?
A cargo bike.
Like Like Like let's have this through out the UK, please Boris.
no ,we do not want this through out yhe uk,cycling is for the ones to stupid to learn to drive or ride a motorbike.
Now only thing left to di is to ditch the helmets.
Nah leave it to personal choice. Helmets save folk.
Why - accidents happen, even between cyclists, and helmets definitely save lives - ask any ER doctor at Cambridge's Addenbrookes Hospital.
@@christopherisherwood4967 Two reasons, first, helmets only give a false sense of security. When a car user spots a cyclist he is aware that fact. Sadly in most cases the distance of passing DECREASES when a helmet is used. That means you are MORE vulnerable. The second thing, helmets have an inhibiting factor: Less people cycle when a helmet is made mandatory.
Yes, a helmet can prevent certain injuries, it is for that reason helmets are usually used when sport competition, it is even mandatory. In car-cyclists accidents rarely loss of life can be prevented by a helmet.
Where is cycling city there is good health & soon earth will without pollution.👍🌄
👍👍👍👍👍
I went there last week and shoot some videos, too
Check out my new travel channel, please
ruclips.net/channel/UCJsfB05DVh-0jA5tb5nrw2w
😊 thanks
Give it enough time, pressure and resources, and city planners will eventually get around and implement it!
Cycling is the way forward for all the UK.
This is the best Britain can do!? It looks like the places i have to cycle in many American cities, dangerous and under developed. The city planners sound like they think it is the numbers of cyclists that effect change in infrastructure, when in reality it is a "build it, and they will come" situation. What do they expect? Hoards of bicycles on the road will make the people more inclined to accommodate bicycles!?
Helmets are so unnecessary
Want to do this in stoke on trent
Car free day perhaps ?
OMG! Only one way in or out! That would not fly in the USA with the police and emergency people. What if there's a terrorist attack? How can they justify their huge vehicle and manpower budgets. Yeah the culture needs to change here.
Emergency services have right of way, in an emergency!
The emergency services can lower those obstacles, and get around anyway.
Are you very upset no one gets your satire? 😢
Ebikes allow even more people to ride now
Well done for trying Cambridge but you're not in the same league as the Netherlands... actually try to give cyclists a completely separate road to cars like the Dutch have.
My apologies for the rather rude remarks of my fellow countryman.
Cambridge looks great in this video. Can't imagine that town centre full of cars, queueing to find a parking spot. Noisy, smelly, dangerous lumps of heavy metal.
There is no need for that if you can reduce the number and speed of cars.
Most Dutch 30km/h roads have no bicycle lanes.
Other calm roads usually have a cycle lane, busy roads have cycle paths. Often in red tarmac.
I think the OP is referring to the painted bike lanes shown a couple of times in this video. Those seem to run alongside very busy car lanes, with the cars going at considerable speed.
People only cycle cause its so expensive to get a house in Cambridge they can't afford a car.
You must be the most upbeat person I encountered in ages! 😎
@@mourlyvold7655 cheers m8
@@NvS-oj9xi 😉
@@NvS-oj9xi lot of bikes cost more then piece of shit cars
Lets make it clear. Those are NOT CYCLISTS! Those are pedestrians on a bicycle. Thats a huuuge difference.
Why does that matter?
Cyclists are fanatics and in general feel privileged, bikers are simply in transportation mode
Whatever. We are huuugely indifferent about your fanatism.
But I do think your life matters too, I'll give you that...
@@dalejacobson6363 there are car drivera nd there are cagers. Cagers are those uneducated, car addicted, fat. lazy, psycho cunts!
horribly dangerous when compared to the Netherlands
Why do all these procycling videos always show cyclers on their bikes in the lovely , dry sunny weather? Never the reality of the UK weather, cold wet and windy which is a major hurdle to get people on a bike. Not all UK cities are flat, Belfast where I am is hilly and have of it is up a mountain. Cycling isn't always the solution for most people.
Well my video I went for 3 days and this is what it was like. It is also very hard to get people to talk outside when it is pouring rain. You are free to make your own film chronicling what you'd like to see of course.
waow ! The roads look so horrible 😂 I have some contries on the top of my head, who does a better job with the roads...
The Nederlands, Denmark, Sweden 😀
What a load of bollocks! And it's only going to get worse. How many years did it take to film, not one person walking in the way of someone on a bike. If by any chance if another is vid is made, how about having someone from Cambridge in it!
You can buy a cheap camera these days and film your own film if you really wanna show us how it is.
@@kudosbudo I have
Ok. I love my bicycle and my new electric scooter. But i also love my car. Equally. I dont like this anti car feeling im getting from this video. I love cycling, but dont give me this attitude, just because i also enjoy driving. Cause if you do, you will loose me altogether. I suspect many drivers will feel the same.
Theres nothing anti car. Use your car as intended. To move loads or go for long trips. I use my car to get to mountain bike and bmx pump tracks. But i'm all for cars being banned completely from certain areas. I'd never drive into a big city. I'd get public trasport and take my bike. it just makes more sense.
What part of the video gives an "anti-car" feeling
The place is not safe as a pedestrian. A large proportion of cyclists need to learn the highway code and a low percentage invest in lights. You take you life in your hands walking in Cambridge.