Cycle Crossing planning stuff

[lnr]

So last year in March the Greater Cambridge Partnership published a number of TRO proposals for Great Shelford/Stapleford, the main one of which is a proposal for road narrowing and a raised crossing to help cyclists and pedestrians crossing Hinton Way between Chaston Road and Mingle Lane.

Camcycle noticed it at the time, and publicised some problems with it, and asked people to object. Their blog includes the original diagrams:

Camcycle blog post

21 days was given for responses, and having read the proposals and looked at the diagrams I put in an objection, because I honestly felt that the proposals as given could make the road less safe for cyclists, particularly those trying to make other journeys - e.g. from the centre of the village along Hinton Way, rather than just crossing Hinton Way. This is the email I wrote objecting:

18 March 2025
Good morning,

I am a resident of Great Shelford, and I am writing to formally object to TRO reference PR1094

The proposed crossing of Hinton Way in order for cyclists to travel between Chaston Road and Mingle Lane is completely unsuitable. Not only does it make the junction more complicated for cyclists making that particular journey along the greenway it also makes things more difficult for cyclists travelling along Hinton Way, where it will be unclear if/when they should leave the carriageway to join the shared use pavement. As a local resident who uses this area in all directions this design needs rethinking and more consultation.

This junction will become more difficult for pedestrians, those on bikes, and for motorists.
I would also appreciate some clarity on whether the proposals on London Road include widening the existing shared use pavement, as the current width is unsuitable, particularly on bin collection days, and this is not very clear from the diagram.

Yours, etc

Today I was emailed to say they're meeting with parish councillors next week to decide whether to go ahead with all the proposed changes, and there's a document here:

TRO Report

From the report:

PR1094 Great Shelford & Stapleford Traffic Calming, Parallel Crossings,
Shared Use Cycleway
66 total responses 5 positive, 3 neutral, 58 objections.

The basis for the majority of objections was on the proposals for the narrowing of Hinton Way, crossing point and shared use path. Other issues raised are set out in Table 1 below, with the GCP recommendations in response to the concerns raised. Sawston Greenway has been through 3 consultations with residents and key stakeholders, and the scheme has been developed in accordance with Local Transport Note 1/20 (LTN 1/20) - cycle design good practice guidance issued by Government. This means that schemes have been developed to ensure that users of all abilities can walk and cycle on the Greenways

Table 1
Objection:
Narrowing of carriageway and priority measures unsafe and will cause congestion.

GCP Recommendation:
The narrowing is required as an additional safety feature that will reduce speeds and increase intervisibility between crossing users and other highways users. The priority will be on traffic travelling northwards thereby reducing impact on the level crossing.
The scheme on Hinton Way has been designed to accommodate those walking and wheeling (providing a wider path) and is in accordance with LTN 1/20.

I'm baffled that they can sum up 58 objections to a proposal with just "Narrowing of carriageway and priority measures unsafe and will cause congestion". I've posted about it on Facebook, and forwarded Camcycle the email I got about the Parish Council meetings, but I don't know where we go from here. Do we just let it go ahead as maybe better than no crossing and then try address any problems as they arise? Is there a way to find full details of the other objections and see how well they've been addressed?

Not being a cycle infrastructure design engineer I'm unlikely to come up with an alternative proposal that meets the relevant design standard - certainly not before the 29th! It's a staggered junction rather than straight across, which doesn't help - so its not an easy one. I'd like to see what (if any) other options they considered, and what thought they've taken for cyclists making other movements. Basically I'm willing to be convinced this is good - but they don't seem to have tried!