Is this new Cyclops junction working for cyclists?

The Cyclops Junction connects Milton Road with Kings Hedges Road and Green End Road in Cambridge

A new Cyclops junction was officially launched in Cambridge last week as part of the wider £31.9m Milton Road Improvement Scheme. The new road configuration, in use since early September, is the second junction of its kind in the city, after the creation of a similar layout on the Histon Road in 2021. What has been the reaction of cyclists?

BBC East observed the new junction for a hour on two consecutive days.

On 5 November, between 17:00 GMT and 18:00, eight out of 13 cyclists ignored the junction's new layout, opting instead to cycle alongside motorists on the main road, which they have been advised is OK to do.

But the following morning, between 09:00 and 10:00, seven out of eight cyclists who used the junction did so via the specified lanes.

The Greater Cambridge Partnership, which built the crossing, said it had been the subject of two road safety audits and that "further road safety audits will be carried out on the junction in the future".

Some cyclists have said the traffic lights do not allow enough time to cross the junction

"Cyclops" stands for "cycle optimised protected signals" - a crossroads-style junction where cyclists and pedestrians can simultaneously cross all arms of the junction at the same time, separated from motorised traffic.

According to the GCP, "it functions as a normal crossroads for drivers while providing the benefits of additional segregation for pedestrians and cyclists from motorised traffic to improve road safety for all users whether they are travelling on foot, bicycle or by car."

'It needs tweaking'

David Andrew believes the junction needs adjustments as crossing timings are too short

Cyclist David Andrew, 62, uses the junction several times a week.

"It's got the potential to be an improvement on the old road layout, but it needs a little tweaking," he said.

"The phasing of the traffic lights need adjusting.

"At the moment, you are supposed to be able to do a right turn by using two crossings, all at once. In other words, across one crossing, then the other, in one go.

"But that's impossible at the moment. The timings are way too short. You simply won't make it.

"If that's fixed, the new junction will be a real improvement on the old one."

'I used to avoid this junction'

Pat Whitehead thinks the new junction is better and safer than the old one

Pat Whitehead said she liked the new layout, "as long as you obey the lights as a cyclist, it's fine".

"But not everyone does," she added.

"I used to avoid this junction, though, whether I was cycling or on foot.

"Especially as it was being rebuilt. It was a nightmare. It was frightening.

"But now, as with the rest of Milton Road, I think it's a lot better."

BBC East found that many cyclists were using the traditional road crossing, which they have been told is OK to do, rather than use the new system

'People find it confusing'

Leah Marchant said that the building phase of the new junction was bad for business at The Golden Hind Pub

Leah Marchant, 22, is the assistant manager of The Golden Hind pub, on the corner of the new Cyclops junction.

She said the time it took to build, and the disturbance the work caused, was bad for business.

"People weren't coming in to use the car parks or the outside spaces," she said.

"It felt like that went on for ages. Definitely, now that it's done, things are much better for us."

Asked about what her customers think, she said: "A lot of them say they find it quite confusing. Especially the cyclists.

"But I think more than anything, everyone's just glad it's finally finished."

The GCP added: "We know that new pieces of infrastructure can take a little getting used to, which is why we produced a film in the summer showing how the CYCLOPS should be used if you are a pedestrian, cyclist, or road user."