Busway in the snow - January 2013

The busway seems to have proved more resilient to the snow this winter, no doubt due to the Council having learned from the experience of last winter.

I went to Cambridge by bus on Sunday. My buses were on time, but there was still a lot of snow on the cycle track, and very few cyclists, walkers or joggers.

I travelled in and out of Cambridge yesterday (Tuesday) on the bus, and I got the impression that the buses were running as normal on the busway itself. My bus was, however, late leaving St Ives, so a delay had crept in from somewhere. A former colleague told me that her early morning commute had been fine on the busway, but delays started as soon as the bus reached the ordinary roads - which isn't very different from normal days when there is no snow.

The cycle track has been almost completely cleared of snow and is actually dry in most places. I spotted the Multihog machine on the cycle track, probably spraying the track with salt (not good for bikes).

Here are a couple of views taken this morning. Still some snow and debris lying on the concrete bridges near St Ives and Swavesey. Presumably the Multihog can't cope with the steep slopes and sharp gradient changes of these two structures. Nice day for a cycle run though - as long as you are well wrapped up.

Newspaper reaction to the snow

The big snowfall ( Saturday 4/ Sunday 5) was slightly too late for full coverage in the local papers that week.

This week's News & Crier ( 16 February, page 4) says that cyclists are angry over snow on the busway cycle trcak. The Multihog, on which Cambridgeshire County Council spent £75,000 cannot be used  with its snowplough attachment on some stretches of the guided busway because the track is too narrow - there is no space to push the snow put of the way.  A council spokesman, Shaun Harrison-Fuller, says the council will do all it can to ensure that the cycle track is kept clear. It's also noted that the bus tracks are treated by a 'guided gritter'. Mr Harrison-Fuller said there was no operational reason for Whippet cancelling their service on Sunday 5th.

A letter for me about the busway conditions appears in the Hunts Post ( February 15, page 7). It details the conditions on the track on 5 February, including the apparent lack of effective gritting or snow ploughing, the dangerous conditions on the Orchard Park unguided section of busway and the failure of Whippet to run a service.

Multihog machine

Cambridgeshire County Council has purchased a Multihog machine, a combined snow plough and brine sprayer. This will be used on the busway bridleway in the winter to deal with ice on the track. The Multihog can have a planer  or sweeper attachment added, so it can be used for other tasks throughout the year. Cost £75,000.
(Huntingdon & St Ives News & Crier, 17 November, page 8)