Initial Reactions to Cambridge’s New Cyclops Junction

A new Cyclops junction was officially launched in Cambridge last week, forming part of the broader £31.9m Milton Road Improvement Scheme. This new road configuration, which has been in operation since early September, marks the second such junction in the city, following the establishment of a similar design on Histon Road in 2021. The article examines the responses from cyclists. BBC East conducted observations at the new junction for one hour on two successive days. On November 5, between 17:00 GMT and 18:00, eight out of 13 cyclists disregarded the junction’s new layout, choosing instead to cycle alongside motorists on the main road, a practice they have been informed is permissible. However, the following morning, between 09:00 and 10:00, seven of the eight cyclists who utilized the junction did so via the specified lanes. The Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP), which was responsible for constructing the crossing, stated that it had undergone two road safety audits and confirmed that “further road safety audits will be carried out on the junction in the future”. The term “Cyclops” is an acronym for “cycle optimised protected signals” – a crossroads-style junction designed to allow cyclists and pedestrians to cross all arms of the junction simultaneously, while being separated from motorized traffic. According to the GCP, “it functions as a normal crossroads for drivers while providing the benefits of additional segregation for pedestrians and cyclists from motorised traffic to improve road safety for all users whether they are travelling on foot, bicycle or by car.” Cyclist David Andrew, 62, uses the junction several times a week. “It’s got the potential to be an improvement on the old road layout, but it needs a little tweaking,” he said. Andrew elaborated, “The phasing of the traffic lights need adjusting. “At the moment, you are supposed to be able to do a right turn by using two crossings, all at once. In other words, across one crossing, then the other, in one go.” He further stated, “But that’s impossible at the moment. The timings are way too short. You simply won’t make it. “If that’s fixed, the new junction will be a real improvement on the old one.” Pat Whitehead expressed her approval of the new layout, remarking, “as long as you obey the lights as a cyclist, it’s fine”. “But not everyone does,” she added. Whitehead also commented, “I used to avoid this junction, though, whether I was cycling or on foot. “Especially as it was being rebuilt. It was a nightmare. It was frightening. “But now, as with the rest of Milton Road, I think it’s a lot better.” Leah Marchant, 22, serves as the assistant manager of The Golden Hind pub, which is situated on the corner of the new Cyclops junction. She indicated that the duration of the construction and the resulting disruption negatively impacted business. Marchant stated, “People weren’t coming in to use the car parks or the outside spaces.” She added, “It felt like that went on for ages. Definitely, now that it’s done, things are much better for us.” When questioned about her customers’ opinions, she responded, “A lot of them say they find it quite confusing. Especially the cyclists. “But I think more than anything, everyone’s just glad it’s finally finished.” The GCP further commented, “We know that new pieces of infrastructure can take a little getting used to, which is why we produced a film in the summer showing how the CYCLOPS should be used if you are a pedestrian, cyclist, or road user.” For updates on Cambridgeshire news, follow BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external sites. Information regarding its approach to external linking is available.