Our Response to GCP’s Consultation on Riverside Walking

Cambridge Living Streets: response to consultation on Riverside improvements 20th May 2025

Residents’ views are very important but the Riverside area is also used by large numbers of Cambridge residents and tourists walking by the river so the design needs to take their needs into account too. Walking is the cheapest and most physically efficient form of active travel for short/medium distances (medics call it the ‘miracle cure’) and ensuring that their journeys are accessible throughout is vital. Pedestrians need:

1. Easily negotiable footways of adequate width

Pedestrians are top of the transport hierarchy as defined by the Department of Transport and revised Highway Code. This means that pedestrian infrastructure needs to cater for pedestrian needs ie: well maintained, even footways wide enough to accommodate wheelchair users or two pedestrians walking abreast.
The footways along Riverside vary in width and at points disappear altogether.
At the start of the footway the path is broad and level but it then reduces to a width where a wheelchair or buggy user would find it difficult to move along, especially if accompanied by a companion or with a small child walking alongside a pushchair. The quality of the surface also varies from good to very poor, broken or uneven.There is also a chunk of footway that has been replaced by electric charging points so it suddenly narrows. A wheelchair user could not safely negotiate this section

2. Junction requirements

At junctions pedestrians should have priority according to the revised Highway Code. The Riverside footway abruptly stops at the junction with River Lane and pedestrians have to cross the road to the other side. They have no view of the river from there and are moving between parked cars and house frontages. There is no pedestrian crossing point and traffic can arrive from River Lane and from Riverside with no warning (as it did when we watched the junction). This is an unsafe place for pedestrians and the path should be extended to create a continuous footway on the river view side.

3. Safe separation of walkers, motor traffic and cyclists

Pedestrians, cyclists and cars have different purposes and destinations in the Riverside area and this needs to be catered for. Currently pedestrians at some points have to walk in the road and this is risky for them and for other traffic. Some walkers and wheelers will be using Riverside as part of a scenic walk by the river although others will be using Riverside to reach destinations across the bridge or crossing the bridge to walk towards the city centre. The improvements need to take account of these different journeys and navigation, bearing in mind that if pedestrian infrastructure is inadequate pedestrians will weave their way around parked cars and use the road space.

4. Improvement of barriers to assist safe pedestrian use

Easily negotiable crossing of cattle grids and other barriers would assist infirm walkers and people walking and wheeling (using walking aids, pushing children in buggies, using wheelchairs or mobility scooters) to move safety along the footway.

5. Improved infrastructure

This means creating a high quality environment that encourage people to walk and wheel. Appropriately placed seating, shade from trees and plots of green space enable walkers to rest, enjoy river views and the experience of walking. It may encourage them to walk more, whereas research indicates that a poor quality, risky environment discourages walking and pushes people towards using their cars more.