Cycling in Cambridge

Cycling is almost ubiquitous in Cambridge. The city is small and flat, making it perfect for nipping around on a bike. It is also well equipped with cycle lanes and parks. Many students find it is the ideal form of transport, although there are alternatives. It can be especially useful during an emergency.

If you are planning on cycling in Cambridge you will need: (i) to find a bike; (ii) to familiarise yourself with the rules of the road, and (iii) have fun exploring.

You can find more cycling information from the Cambridge Cycling Campaign or the Student Advice Service.

Getting a bike

There are many bike shops around Cambridge. It pays to shop around. A decent bike should cost £100-150 with lights, mud guards, etc. A good second hand bike should cost around £50-£70. It may be possible to buy a bike from a leaving student using the Student to Student site. Churchill has it’s own dedicated section, contact the Green Officer (mcr-green@chu.cam.ac.uk) for details of our RE-CYCLE scheme.

Make sure that you buy lights for your bike. They not only make you more visible, but you can fined if you do not have them. They can be bought from the Porters or the Welfare Officers. A helmet is also a good choice and strongly recommended.

Bike theft is quite common in Cambridge. It is worth investing in a good lock. Unless you are an obsessive cyclist, it is probably not worth investing in an expensive bike. You may like to register your bike with a service like Immobilise to protect it.

All bikes are required to be registered with the Porters who will give you a College-based identifier. This is useful for tracing lost bikes, and prevents Cambridge from becoming cluttered with abandoned cycles.

To keep your bike in best condition, you must make sure it is maintained. Spokes, a bicycle repair service visits Churchill regularly. We also have a few tools in the Sports Equipment Cupboard. Please return them immediately after use.

Safe cycling

Before you hit the roads, you should read the Government’s helpful guidelines, which include safety advice and the rules and regulations. As a cyclist you are expected to follow all the rules of the road including: obeying red lights, one way signs and stopping at zebra crossings. It is also an offence to cycle while intoxicated.

Cycle routes

There are various sources of information regarding cycle routes. The Cambridge Cycling Campaign produces several maps including a plan of the city centre with detailed notes. The City Council provide maps of cycle routes in the surrounding areas, for those who want to venture further from home. CycleStreets provides a journey planner to help you find the quickest routes.