Talking about transport in Cambridge 15th April 2025 - Part 3: Safety? What safety?

"It is hard to imagine a more stupid or more dangerous way of making decisions than by putting those decisions in the hands of people who pay no price for being wrong." - Thomas Sowell

On accidents, the seeming inability of the legal system to examine the complexity of why accidents happen and why road designers are never held to account for any poor quality roads they design.
In addition, why is there money for surveillance cameras but not for repairing potholes if safety is the real concern?
Are pedestrians being deliberately used as a way of slowing down traffic?
Brian is an indefatigable campaigner against the problem of potholes that infests Cambridgeshire's roads and pathways. In my view he is a keen cyclist, although he says he isn't! He is also very familiar with the problems caused by inadequate infrastructure and the failure by councils to address real issues rather than the imaginary ones that just happen to serve their agenda. I thought it would be good to get the perspective of a cyclist on transport around Cambridge and I am very grateful to Brian for sitting down with me for an afternoon to talk about these matters.

On prevention of future deaths reports:
https://www.judiciary.uk/courts-and-tribunals/coroners-courts/reports-to-prevent-future-deaths/

https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/action-to-prevent-future-deaths-reports-regulation-28/

On removing the Elizabeth Way/East Road underpass:
"Cambridge’s East Road roundabout and underpass could be removed"
https://www.cambridgeindependent.co.uk/news/east-road-roundabout-and-underpass-could-be-removed-9302122/

"A roundabout and underpass in Cambridge could be removed under plans to improve walking, cycling and public transport to the east of the city. The proposals have been drawn up by the Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP).
The scheme involves removing the roundabout and junction of East Road and Elizabeth Way as part of the Cambridge Eastern Access project. The large central sunken area will then be filled in to create a four-way junction on a single flat surface with no roundabout."
https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/cambridge-news/plans-remove-roundabout-underpass-cambridge-26420278

Information about Cambridge's well connected and very influential cycling charity can be found here:
"Camcycle (the Cambridge Cycling Campaign) is a local charity which has been working for more, better and safer cycling in the Cambridge area since 1995."
https://www.camcycle.org.uk/about/

https://www.facebook.com/CambridgeCyclingCampaign/

Information on the Greenways around Cambridge can be found here:
https://www.greatercambridge.org.uk/sustainable-transport-programme/active-travel-projects/greater-cambridge-greenways

"Guidance Cycle infrastructure design (LTN 1/20)
Guidance for local authorities on designing high-quality, safe cycle infrastructure"
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cycle-infrastructure-design-ltn-120

"Cambridgeshire County Council fined £6 million for breaches after guided busway deaths"
https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/cambridge-news/cambridgeshire-county-council-fined-6-31437841