New first of a kind “Dutch-style” roundabout opens in UK
The new Dutch-style roundabout, the first of its kind in the UK, opened this week in Cambridgeshire.
The roundabout found at the junction of Queen Edith’s Way, Fendon Road and Mowbray Road in Cambridge, has an outer ring for cyclists, in a contrasting red surface, to give them equal priority with pedestrians over oncoming vehicles.
Improvements to the roundabout follow public consultations which highlighted that the old roundabout was perceived by many people to be dangerous to cycle around. Residents also reported feeling unsafe when walking in the area due to a lack of pedestrian crossings, particularly more vulnerable users.
Parallel crossings have now been installed on each of the four ‘arms’ of the roundabout – these are zebra crossings for pedestrians and cycle crossings for cyclists. The zebra crossings also extend over the cycle lanes so pedestrians have priority over cyclists as well as motor vehicles.
The roundabout has also been designed to encourage motorists to drive at a slower speed, with a central over-run area allowing larger vehicles to manoeuvre around the roundabout.
Slower speeds will help protect other road users on the roundabout, alongside the requirement for motorists to give way to cyclists and pedestrians on the crossings. Cyclists should slow down to make sure motorists have seen them and are stopping, as should also be the case for pedestrians when using the zebra crossings.
Cllr Ian Bates, Chairman of the Highways and Transport Committee, said: “I am delighted to see the completion of improvements to this roundabout, which aim to improve safety at this busy junction and encourage more people to walk and cycle. It is great to see Cambridgeshire leading the way in implementing the first truly Dutch inspired roundabout that improves safety for vulnerable users, ahead of recent nationally published Government guidance that strongly promotes this type of infrastructure.”
Video credit: Cambridgeshire County Council
