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Under the new scheme motorists on Adams Road will give way to cyclists

A road is being transformed into "England's first official Cycle Street" to give cyclists and pedestrians priority over motorists.

Adams Road is one of the busiest cycle routes in Cambridge, used daily by about 3,000 cyclists at peak times and connecting the West Cambridge site to the city centre.

The redesign would see on-road parking removed, junctions reconfigured to slow traffic, and raised crossings and wider footpaths installed for pedestrian safety.

Construction on the Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP) project will start on 13 October and is expected to last about 30 weeks.

The transformation is part of the GCP's Comberton Greenway initiative, to improve sustainable travel across the region. It said the project would be "England's first official Cycle Street".

Motorists would still have access to the road, but must give way to cyclists.

Brian Milnes, councillor and chair of the GCP, said there would be temporary disruption, but the project was about "making everyday journeys safer and easier for everyone".

"We've heard too many stories of cyclists being knocked off their bikes and car doors suddenly opening into their path, while elderly and vulnerable residents have to step into the road just to get around bins or parked cars," Milnes said. "That shouldn't be the reality on one of Cambridge's busiest cycling routes."

As part of the changed, much of the on-road parking would be removed to stop blind spots for drivers leaving driveways and reduce the risk of car doors opening into the path of cyclists.

Dan Strauss, representing residents in the area, said fast traffic, crowded pavements and constant near misses turned the busy cycle route "into an unsafe experience".

"Change is so needed," he said. "Adams Road is a cycling success story but as it's got busier, hundreds of parked cars are creating blind spots for motorists, pedestrians and cyclists. As well as this, parents worry about letting children ride bikes or scooters, and families have watched loved ones using mobility aids forced to navigate one obstacle after another on narrow pavements."

Camcycle's Anna Williams also praised the initiative and hoped it would encourage people to choose active travel for their everyday journeys.

Alongside the road upgrades, rain gardens and green planting would also be introduced to manage rainwater and boost biodiversity.

The Comberton Greenway is one of 12 routes being developed to connect Cambridge with surrounding villages.