Politicians are still almost entirely preoccupied with solving historical problems, and not getting started on meeting the climate challenge.
Category - Politics
Railroading decisions on busways and car parks
Is GCP railroading inexperienced councillors into agreeing to proceed with environmentally damaging and demonstrably unnecessary projects?
What is the public cost of private transport?
We have to invest in transport that is more space- and energy-efficient, and accessible to everyone, regardless of age, wealth or abilities.
Edward LeighHow can we make more space for walking and cycling?
The County Council has been slow off the mark, recently stating that officers are still looking at data and talking with their maintenance contractor.
Who should be involved to make good transport decisions for Cambridge?
Why we need to transfer transport powers from the county council and make Greater Cambridge a Highway Authority.
Local government needs to stop wasting time and money
It’s the not the job of council officers to protect the reputations of incompetent consultants, yet they do.
Why consultations aren’t helping
To de-carbonise the economy, restore balance with nature, enhance public health and promote social justice, we have to do government differently.
What has the new government promised on transport?
The next five years are critical for the future of the planet: will the UK lead the way on de-carbonising transport?
How can we fix local government in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough?
Is there anyone who thinks that local government in Cambridgeshire is functioning well?
How transport’s gender gap gives us an incomplete picture
The transport system is poorly designed for over half of the population – we need to change this.
Who’ll pay for the transport from Essex’s new town?
Somebody should be obligated to pay to provide really good public transport.
£40m spent so far on transport schemes: where has it all gone?
The biggest problem stems from an accounting practice that makes a hard distinction between capital and operating expenditure.
Back where we started with the Cambourne to Cambridge busway
You can let politicians know you want a change of course for the Cambourne to Cambridge busway.
Three new Cambridges by 2050, but no credible plan to cope
How did our local politicians allow us to be steamrollered into accepting this scale of growth?
Cambridgeshire’s confused governance is hampering transport policy
How can anything work in Cambridgeshire when five bodies have responsibilities and receive funding for transport?
The good, the bad and the ugly
The mayor’s recently-published Interim Transport Strategy Statement re-confirms his ambitions for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
Why is the County Council moving to Alconbury Weald?
The County Council has voted to move its base from Castle Hill in Cambridge to Alconbury Weald. It's a done deal.
Smarter Cambridge Transport: continuing to ask the questions
Smarter Cambridge Transport is growing, and in 2018 we'll continue to put forward the ideas and ask the questions. Here's how.
Smarter Cambridge Transport: our journey to date
Smarter Cambridge Transport came together to advance integrated, innovative and sustainable transport ideas. So, how have we done?
Can we have joined-up local government?
Confusion and blame-passing is almost daily between Planning (City Council) and Highways (County Council). We deserve better.
Before we build that bus-, rail-, or AVRT-way…
Are we using the County Council’s Long Term Transport Plan or not? The GCP and the mayor can't pick and choose.
Lobby politicians, not officers
There is one feature of the local government system that’s simple: politicians set policy; officers advise and deliver. So who should people lobby?
More space for living, less for parking
You may be aware that Murdoch House, on the corner of Cambridge’s Station Square, is set to be replaced, but did you know that more buildings are planned to go up on the car park? Initial designs (currently being...
Let’s change the way public transport works here
The Dutch are well-known for their high-quality cycleways. They also do a very good job of running public transport. First, they have OV-chipkaart, a national smart card that lets you tap-and-go on just about any train...
Concrete is not the only solution
Aren’t you just loving the 2017 election season? In the local elections, we had weeks of talk about headline-grabbing transport infrastructure projects. Most candidates stated an ambition to solve the region’s transport...
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Devolution: a summary
[Links updated March 2021] On 4 May 2017, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough elected James Palmer (Conservative) as mayor. He will chair the Combined Authority, a new body that brings together the district and city...
Ways in which we must follow Anne Hidalgo’s lead
Think of a mayor. Perhaps Boris Johnson springs to mind? A man whose pre-Brexit legacy was to start a cycling revolution in London: ‘Boris bikes’ and cycle superhighways. Maybe Rudy Giuliani? Famous for Zero Tolerance...
Reducing Traffic Congestion and Pollution in Urban Areas
Ideas for reducing congestion and pollution in urban areas, developed in the context of the Greater Cambridge area, typical of many UK towns and cities.
What do we want from the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough mayor?
“I’ll be with you in a minute. I’m listening to the mayor on the radio.” On 5 May 2017, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough will join a handful of cities and regions with powers and money devolved from government. The...
Where is the Hills Road cycleway project review?
Successful businesses are built on the maxim “If you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it”. So imagine for a moment that one of Cambridge’s world-leading businesses instituted a project which overran its budget by...
Greater Cambridge City Deal: A New Approach
Areas of concern [Updated 23 August 2016: expanded section on access and parking permits] Here in summary are ten concerns that residents, businesses and observers have voiced about the City Deal: The City Deal is...