How Experimental Traffic Regulation Orders work
An Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) is like a Permanent Traffic Regulation Order - it is a legal document which imposes traffic and parking restrictions. We use ETROs to see if a scheme will work in practice.
An ETRO can stay in force for up to a maximum of 18 months while the effects are monitored and assessed. We welcome feedback throughout the process, however, formal objections to the order must be made in the first six months of it coming into force.
If changes to an ETRO are made, six months are allowed for objection from the date those changes came into operation. A decision on whether the changes introduced as part of the ETRO will be removed or made permanent must be made within 18 months of an order coming into force.
There is opportunity for anyone to feedback comments on specific schemes. The decision to make a scheme permanent will follow our formal decision making process.
Emergency Active Travel Fund
To support the recovery from Coronavirus, the Government drove forward a programme to put in place temporary walking and cycling schemes 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
The Government relaxed certain legislation and guidance in order to enable a faster delivery of walking and cycling schemes. We worked with the city and district councils to prepare a list of schemes which we delivered to support the recovery from Coronavirus. These schemes were implemented as Experimental Traffic Regulation Orders (ETROs).
Schemes
PR1047 Cowley Road, Cambridge (Prohibition of Waiting) (Experimental) Order 2024
The purpose of this order is to improve safety on Cowley road for all by prohibiting vehicular parking on both sides of the carriageway at any time. By doing so, active travel is supported and enhanced.
If you would like to comment the end of the consultation is the 6th of January 2025, please quote ref. PR1047 in your correspondence.
Cambridgeshire County Council (High Street, Cottenham) (Street Parking Places) Experimental (Variation) Order 2023
The effect of this Order is to revoke 5m of the limited waiting parking bay – waiting limited to 30 minutes, no return within 1 hour from 9am to 6pm Monday to Friday – on the western side of High Street, Cottenham replacing it with cycle parking facilities. Specifically, between points 28m and 33m northwest of its junction with Telegraph Street.
Closing date for comments is the 5 July 2023.
Cambridgeshire County Council (St Ives Town Centre) (Pedestrian Zone and Traffic Restrictions) Experimental (Variation) Order 2022
The effect of this Order is to reduce the length of the northernmost loading bay on the eastern side of Bridge Street, St Ives by 5 metres (removed from the northern end of the bay) with the aim of introducing cycling parking measures in its stead.
Closing date for comments is the 24 May 2023.
Electric scooter trial
Cambridgeshire County Council (Various Roads, Cambridge) (Electric Scooter Exemptions) Experimental Order 2022
This order allows electric scooters (e-scooters) being used as part of an approved rental scheme to use on-road dual use cycle tracks, cycle lanes and bus lanes in Cambridge.
This is a Government backed trial and is intended to test the use and impact of e-scooters to inform possible future legislation.
Closing date for comment is 30 September 2022.
Active Travel Schemes in Cambridgeshire
These schemes are part of a package of measures being pursued under the Government-funded Active Travel initiative to promote walking and cycling.
PR0938 Vinery Road, Cambridge – Reversal of One-way Traffic Order
This Order will reverse the existing one-way traffic restriction, except pedal cycles, on Vinery Road, between Vinery Way and Coldham’s Lane. This will mean that motor vehicles on Vinery Road must travel from Vinery Way westwards and then northwards to Coldham’s Lane. The order will come into operation on 29 June 2023 and construction works are expected to take place around that time. These measures will be trialled and, in due course, the Council will be considering if they should be made permanent.
Objections to the order becoming permanent must be received by 28 December 2023.
PR0821 Church Street and Vinery Road, Cambridge – Prohibition of Driving Order.
This order will create modal filters in these two roads with a section of each road closed to motor vehicles. This order will come into operation on 15 August 2022 and construction works are expected to take place around that time. These measures will be trialled and, in due course, the Council will be considering if they should be made permanent.
Objections to the orders becoming permanent must be received by 14 February 2023.
PR0822 East Road, Cambridge - Prohibition of Waiting Order.
This order is to facilitate the provision of cycle lanes in this road. This order will come into operation on 19 September 2022 and construction works are expected to take place around that time. These measures will be trialled and, in due course, the Council will be considering if they should be made permanent.
Objections to the orders becoming permanent must be received by 18 March 2023.
PR0825 Cambridge Road, Madingley – One-Way Traffic and Prohibition of Driving Order
This Order will introduce a length of one-way traffic for motor vehicles on Cambridge Road. Motor vehicles will only be permitted to proceed from A1303 towards Madingley village and not in the opposite direction. The alternative route for traffic affected will be via Church Lane and A1303 Madingley Road. Two-way travel will be retained for cyclists.. This order will come into operation on 19 September 2022 and construction works are expected to take place around that time. These measures will be trialled and, in due course, the Council will be considering if they should be made permanent.
Objections to the order becoming permanent must be received by 18 March 2023
PR0858 Ambury Road, Huntingdon - Contraflow Cycle Lane and Waiting Restriction Amendments
This Order will introduce a Contraflow Cycle Lane on Ambury Road between Avenue Road and B1514 Brookside/Cromwell Walk. This will allow cyclists to proceed against the existing one-way traffic restriction on that length of road. The existing double yellow lines on that length of road will be changed to facilitate the new cycle lane. The order will come into operation on 14 December 2022 and construction works are expected to take place around that time. These measures will be trialled and, in due course, the Council will be considering if they should be made permanent.
Objections to the order becoming permanent must be received by 13 June 2023.
Comments and objections
You can send comments to the Policy and Regulation Team by email to policyandregulation@cambridgeshire.gov.uk or by post to the following address:
Policy and Regulation Team
Highways Depot
Stanton Way
Huntingdon
Cambridgeshire
PE29 6PY
If you wish to make a formal objection, you need to wait until the ETRO is in force. Objections may be made to the order being made permanent and these must be made within six months of the day that the ETRO comes into force.
