Cambridge Leads the Way

I was up in parliament today discussing the success of cycling in Cambridge with MPs – both commoners and lords.

Compared to the rest of Britain Cambridge is an undoubted success story. It is easy to say that Cambridge is bound to be a place to cycle because it is flat but so is Norwich and Cambridge has for more cyclists then Norwich does.

The only aspect that I can see that Cambridge has over other cities in favour of cycling is its culture is supportive. Once a city backs cycling seriously its citizens begin to cycle and a virtuous cycle develops.

This does not happen overnight. I think that there are three ingredients: a significant body of cyclists locally who understand how to persuade others to join them on two wheels, a planning authority – both councillors and officers – and a highways authority – again both councillors and officers – who share the vision of a city based on walking and cycling. A bit of national funding does not go amiss either but that alone is not sufficient.