Road safety campaigners welcome UK's first roundabout which prioritises cyclists over drivers
The UK's first Dutch-style roundabout, which prioritises cyclists and pedestrians over motorists, has been welcomed by road safety campaigners.
Cyclists have an outer ring on the roundabout, which is situated in Cambridge, with cycle crossings over each of the four approach roads in a contrasting red surface.
There are also zebra crossings over each approach road for pedestrians.
Motorists must give way to pedestrians and to cyclists when joining and leaving the roundabout, while reduced lane widths on the roundabout and at exit and entry points are designed to encourage drivers to slow down.
Roxanne De Beaux, executive director of the Cambridge Cycling Campaign, said the new roundabout "feels like a small piece of Dutch cycling heaven”.
"I feel very safe with this layout, the geometry made it easy to see the cars leaving and approaching the roundabout and the people driving were all giving way to the people cycling and walking," she said.
RAC head of roads policy Nicholas Lyes said: "Going Dutch will take on a whole new meaning in Cambridge and the council should take credit for trying to improve safety for all road users.
Was a bit apprehensive about how the Fendon Road roundabout would function, but found the new design really intuitive - for all users. Been in Cambridge 30+ years and it was the first time I actually felt safe cycling round a roundabout 😊 pic.twitter.com/HSgWMO6eey
— Anne Beamish (@IndieCamb) August 2, 2020
Pretty excited about Cambridge's new Dutch-style roundabout!
I might have gone round more than once... pic.twitter.com/Y1Aa0lm0C5— Anna Le Gouais (@AnnaLeGouais) August 2, 2020
This, though completely commonplace in NL, is *amazing* to see in the UK: civilised transport infrastructure that puts people first. Open today - the Fendon Road roundabout in Cambridge. Nice work @CambsCC, showing that this is possible. https://t.co/JU3fowgHT8
— Warren Hatter is With The Grain (@warrenhatter) August 1, 2020
It was a career highlight and a delight to cycle around Cambridge’s new Dutch-style roundabout yesterday. It really did feel like a piece of Dutch cycling heaven. Following the government’s announcements earlier this week I’m starting to believe we can achieve #cyclingforall https://t.co/eoxE2sT6j9
— Roxanne DeBeaux (@roxyfromoz) August 1, 2020
"For drivers, this may well be an unusual junction to navigate in the first instance, but they should remember that priority must be given to both cyclists and pedestrians as well as the usual 'give way' to vehicles approaching from the right.
"Some might have concerns about the impact on congestion but ultimately, if the scheme reduces collisions and injuries then that will be the true measure of success."
Cambridgeshire County Council said that the old roundabout near the city's Addenbrooke's Hospital "was perceived by many people to be dangerous to cycle around”.
People also "reported feeling unsafe when walking in the area due to a lack of pedestrian crossings, particularly more vulnerable users", the authority said.
Some have criticised the cost of the scheme, originally estimated at around £800,000, which had almost trebled to £2.3 million by the end of the project.
A council highways report said this was down to additional utility work including BT and UK Power Networks cabling, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK