Cambridge has been named one of Britain’s smartest cities – showing the rapid progress of the pioneering Smart Cambridge programme which is supported by the Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP). The city was named tenth in the second annual UK Smart Cities Index published by Huawei UK for its pioneering work using data and technology to help improve transport, air quality and other urban challenges. Index rankings were calculated by an in-depth analysis of ten criteria within the cities’ strategy and execution, covering areas such as their vision, digital innovation, implementation record and community reach.

The rapidly evolving programme has been allocated £1.6million by GCP over the next three years, as part of its plans to improve transport infrastructure and promote economic growth in and around Cambridge. Huawai evaluated 20 cities and their strategies, key projects and overall readiness in using digital technology to improve crucial civic services from transport infrastructure to healthcare. Cambridge is one of 12 ‘contender’ cities. The overall ‘leader’ in the report is Bristol, followed by London.

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The Greater Cambridge Travel Survey is still running until 6th November. The survey capture travel patterns and preferred modes of transport – with a key focus on what infrastructure improvements people need to enable them to travel more sustainability. Cambridge is expected to double by 2030 and the information obtained from the Greater Cambridge Travel Survey will be used to help shape future investment in the transport network. The survey is being carried out by Travel for Cambridgeshire (TfC) on behalf of the Greater Cambridge Partnership.

Construction work on Phase 2 of the Arbury Road cycleway began last week. The scheme is one of five cross-city cycling projects funded by the Greater Cambridge City Deal to extend and improve the city’s cycling network. This project should be completed in 20 weeks (between 9.30am and 3.30pm, Monday to Friday) which will involve the construction of new cycle lanes, footpaths and two pedestrian crossings.
 
The Greater Cambridge Partnership is also currently working on 18 other cycling schemes which are gradually being rolled out.

Bike share is developing rapidly in the UK and a second report has come out for 2017. The report indicates that bike sharing is attracting more people to cycle and provides a snapshot of who uses bike share and the way they use it. Key points are as follows:

• Increasing number of women are using bike share and they combine it with public transport. People use bike share for parts of trips made by public transport - 40% use bike share and the train, and 25% use bike share and the bus in the same journey.
• More women use public bike share than ride their own bikes. Only 25% of cycle trips are on personal bikes.
• A significant number of people switched journeys from cars to bike share bikes, which has a direct impact on congestion and emissions.
• Of all those surveyed started to cycle or increased the amount they cycle as a result of the bike share scheme.
• Bike share encourages people to leave the car at home.

Full report on the bike survey can be found here

A new railcard for people aged 26-30 is to be launched early next year offering a third off most train fares as part of a wider government initiative to offer better deals for hard-pressed millennials. The new “millennial card” (via the Railcard app) is expected to offer benefits similar to the current 18-25 railcard, giving a third off most rail and tube fares, at a purchase price of £30 and on an annual basis. The first 26-30 railcards will be offered to 10,000 users of the Greater Anglia network in early December, while the scheme goes national in early 2018.

The rail industry is also understood to be launching a major new initiative, under the working title “One plan for the railways” on 6 November, which the new railcard is believed to play a part in.

Full article can be found here