Short, medium and long-term vision
Cambridgeshire adopted its Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) in October 2022. It lists key projects for active travel in each district. We focus on projects for cycling and walking between key destinations. Informing our top priorities. Now, we're developing LCWIP2. It will include extra projects from the Active Travel Strategy. These will serve as second-tier priorities. These will be ranked similarly and inspire future active travel projects.
Routes near me
Funding for schemes
Active Travel England’s (ATE’s) active travel fund supports our ambitious plans to reach Net Zero by 2045. Projects improve and reallocate road space to dedicated, safe cycling and walking schemes.
Since 2020 Cambridgeshire County Council (CCC) have secured over £3 million of funding. This includes extra funds from
- Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP),
- National Highways (formerly Highways England) Designated Fund,
- Horizon 2020 EU,
- Local Highway Improvement Fund,
- Developing Transport Strategy Aims,
- Integrated Transport Block,
- S106 funding from housing developers,
- Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA),
- Cambridgeshire County Council Funding,
- Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL),
- Public Health.
Delivered schemes
Some of the active travel schemes delivered include:
- Modal filters in Cambridge
- Fendon Road and Queen Edith's Way Roundabout
- Chisholm Trail Phase 1
- Abbey/Chesterton Bridge
- School streets set up at 7 primary schools across the County.
- Papworth Everard to Cambourne Cycleway
- Fenstanton Footpath to Bridleway Upgrade - linking village to Busway.
- Longstanton Bridleway 10 Upgrade
- Lancaster Way Roundabout crossings
- Dry Drayton NMU (non-motorised users) link
- Girton to Oakington phase one
- A14/Histon junction with Cambridge Road junction - preliminary design
A fuller list of recent schemes can be found at the bottom of the page.
Award winning schemes
In 2023 we were won the Active Travel Award from Citti awards . Our bid highlighted three quality schemes. These efforts underscore our commitment to Active Travel infrastructure in Cambridgeshire.
1. Chisholm Trail Phase 1
The first phase of the Chisholm Trail opened to the public in December 2021. It is a joint project between the Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP) and Cambridgeshire County Council. The Chisholm Trail is an exciting new walking and cycling route. Linking Cromwell Road to Cambridge North railway station. Creating a mostly off-road and traffic-free route. The route includes a new underpass under Newmarket Road. Also, a new foot/cycle bridge (the Abbey-Chesterton Bridge) next to the railway bridge over the River Cam.
The architect of the bridge was Knight Architects. The structural engineer was Milestone Infrastructure. The Abbey-Chesterton Bridge is on the shortlist for the Structural Steel Design Awards. A national competition which celebrates excellence through criteria such as cost-effectiveness, aesthetics, and innovation.
Since the opening of Phase 1 in December 2021, the project has benefited residents. Creating a safe and car free path travelling in a north-south direction.
Once the entire trail (Phase 1 and 2) is complete, it will create a 26km mostly off-road and traffic-free route.
- Connecting Cambridge North to Cambridge Station.
- Linking with the city centre.
- Providing routes to Cambridge Biomedical Campus in the south.
- Joining with the business and science parks in the north.
- Providing access from St Ives, Northstowe and other communities.
As part of the project a sensor is now on the new bridge which shows up to 4,000 people walking and cycling over it a day.
Visit the Knight Architect's website to find out more.
2. Histon Road Scheme
This is a Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP) scheme. It has received a commendation from the Chartered Institute for Highways and Transportation for “healthy transport design.” This multi-million-pound scheme includes the creation of
- a dedicated bus lane,
- floating bus stops,
- widened existing cycle lanes,
- new cycle lanes.
To encourage more people to walk, cycle or take the bus along Histon Road. Helping to cut congestion and improve air quality.
A state-of-the-art CYCLOPS junction (short for Cycle Optimised Protected Signals) is part of the scheme. This facilitates an orbital cycle route separating cyclists from motor traffic and pedestrians. Located at the crossroads of Gilbert Road and Warwick Road.
Watch the video of the new Histon Road Cyclops junction.
3. Fendon Road and Queen Edith's Way Roundabout
This is the first ever Dutch-style roundabout in Cambridge delivered by the County. A Dutch-style roundabout has crossings (cycle and pedestrian zebra crossings) on each arm. This enables pedestrians and cyclists to have priority over motorists. The entry and exit arms are perpendicular to the roundabout. They have minimal flare and reduced width. Creating slower vehicle speeds on the arms and circulatory carriageway. A central over-run area allows larger vehicles to manoeuvre around the roundabout.
Redesigning the roundabout has given pedestrians and cyclists priority over motorists. Encouraging active travel to be the “first choice for most short trips.” The scheme has resulted in a 50% increase in people cycling and 30% increase in people walking. The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority wanted to help people make “healthier journeys.” As stated in the Local Transport and Connectivity Plan (LTCP).
Further information about the scheme is published here.
Routes coming soon
The GCP are delivering a number of projects in Greater Cambridge.
- The Milton Road project aims to improve public transport, cycle and walking. It makes these sustainable travel options more attractive than driving. This supports the continued economic growth of Greater Cambridge. Reducing harm to existing communities and the environment.
- Greater Cambridge Greenways will make it easier and more pleasant to travel in and out of Cambridge in a sustainable way. They’ll also help make local journeys like school runs safer and easier. There will be twelve greenways feeding into Cambridge, forming the spokes of a wheel. Walkers, cyclists and other non-motorised vehicle users will be able to travel safely and sustainably. The greenways will, where possible, link to each other and with other active travel projects like the Chisholm Trail.
In 2023, Cambridgeshire County Council received £910,000 from the Active Travel Fund. This has been used for the construction and development schemes.
Construction of two schemes completed by the end of March 2024:
- Girton to Eddington scheme
- Buckden to Brampton scheme
Delivering three development schemes by end of March 2024. These will involve detailed design and some modelling work.
- Alconbury - Little Stukeley - Great Stukeley - Huntingdon Business Park - Huntingdon Station
- Godmanchester - Huntingdon Centre
- Granta Park - A505 roundabout
Further funding will be sourced to begin construction of these schemes once designs are approved.
Ongoing active travel projects
We are encouraging Cambridgeshire residents to cycle by engaging with Love to Ride. The website and app track your cycling journeys and you can win prizes when you cycle.
Outspoken Cycles are operating a try before you buy scheme for cargo bikes on behalf of the Council. There are bikes for families and businesses to try.
Smart Journeys work with some new developments across the region to promote active travel to new residents.
Our Road Safety team are working with schools to increase active journeys for the school run. Schemes including Junior Travel Ambassadors, Take 5 walking zones, Bike It cycling promotion and School Streets are all encouraging active journeys.
Infrastructure tours and advice
Cambridgeshire has some excellent examples of quality active travel infrastructure. We are happy to talk about this with other professionals. Tours are available to show our successful schemes. Contact the Active Travel team to make arrangements and see if we can offer any advice.
Schemes Implemented from Active Travel Funding
Active Travel Fund Tranche 1 became available in 2020 to support the recovery from Coronavirus. Walking and cycling schemes were encouraged to help people get out and socially distance. Through the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, we secured money from the Government’s Emergency Active Travel Fund to implement temporary changes to the public highway, such as:
- Pop-up cycle lanes
- Wider pavements
- Safer junctions
- Bus-only routes
Active Travel Fund Tranche 2 projects were discussed in 2021. They aimed to make it easier to walk and cycle following the Coronavirus pandemic. A public consultation was held between 13 July 2021 and 20 September 2021. Read the report of the results below
Cambridgeshire Active Travel Schemes - Consultation Report (opens as a .pdf)
- Survey data
Cambridgeshire Active Travel Schemes - Survey Data (opens as a .xls)
- Stakeholder feedback
Stakeholder feedback (opens as a .xls)
Active Travel Fund Tranche 2 schemes were delivered in 2022. A number of them were implemented as initial 18 month trials using ETROs. These were then approved at a meeting of the Highways and Transport Committee in December 2023.
