Cambridge Guided Busway

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Cambridge Guided Busway Cycle Route Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

The Cambridge Guided Busway was originally built as a service road for the busway. Sadly, when it floods (as it does from time to time) the local authority refuses to do anything about it, claiming it’s a service road. However, when talking about what they’re doing for cycling, they’re quick to call it a cycle trail.

It starts at the Cambridge North railway station and runs for 12.6 miles to St Ives. Because it was built as a service road, it has a wide, tarred surface throughout. There are some busy roads to cross.

Be careful along this route when cycling with young kids, as buses travel surprisingly fast, right next to the track.

The photo is by Adam Edwards.

Surface

The entire length of the busway has a good, wide and smooth tar surface.

Bikes

Any type of bike may be used, including trikes, handcycles, cargo bikes, tandems and bikes with trailers.

Toilets

There are toilets at the start, by the station, and again at the Waitrose in St Ives.

Points of Interest

Cambridge university is a local attraction.

Routes in Cambridgeshire

Barriers

There are no barriers along the guided busway.

Ratings

Safety: ⭐⭐
Hilliness: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Flat)
Refreshment stops: ⭐⭐
Barriers: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Surface: ⭐⭐⭐

Overall: ⭐⭐⭐

The grading system I use is explained here.

Forecast for the Cambridge Guided Busway

DayCycle

DayCycle routes are routes can can easily be cycled by most people in a day, or part of a day. Do have a look at all the other DayCycle routes available on WillCycle. Many contain detailed route guides, as well as embedded maps (like the one below) from which you can download the GPX file for the route.

5 thoughts on “Cambridge Guided Busway”

  1. There are also toilets at the Longstanton Park and Ride stop, and a good cafe at the Old Station in Histon.

    Reply

  2. Having spent some 150 million pounds on building the Cambridge/St Ives busway. What sort of brainless stupidity designed a service road cum footpath/cycleway that has a number of sections which are below the Great Ouse River regular flood levels and therefor are not usable at times of the river being in flood. Also as to what if anything is currently being done to rectify this ludicrous situation?

    Reply

    • Hi Derek,
      Thank you for telling me about sections that are liable to flooding – I’ve updated the route guide accordingly.
      However, I feel you may benefit from me explaining the fact that I created the *route guide*, not *the route*. Much as I might understand your anger, you’re aiming it at entirely the wrong person.

      Have you considered anger management therapy? I feel it might help!
      Kind regards,
      Will

      Reply

  3. Not sure it’s suitable for *all* kinds of cycles – IIRC, some of the ‘up and overs’ where it crosses drainage(?) near the St Ives end have very sharp vertical transitions that may lead to a velomobile grounding its nose. Might be worth a ping into the BHPC forum to see if any local velonauts can confirm.

    Reply

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