Cambridgeshire County Council has introduced the United Kingdom’s first cycling speed limit, setting a 15 mph restriction on a shared-use route in Cambridge in an effort to improve pedestrian safety. The measure affects a 16-mile stretch of a maintenance track running alongside the city’s Guided Busway, which is frequented by cyclists, pedestrians, including older people and families with young children.

The council said the speed limit was necessary to address concerns over dangerous cycling on the busy path, which has seen multiple safety incidents since the busway’s opening in 2011. The route, mostly situated on council land, allows local authorities to enforce the new speed limit—an ability previously limited to parks since laws have restricted local governments from imposing speed limits on cyclists using public highways.

In addition to the 15 mph restriction, motorcycles and electric bikes that exceed the speed limit are no longer allowed on the track. The council has installed speed detection points and signage urging cyclists to slow down. Patrons will also find placards featuring QR codes for reporting antisocial behavior and criminal activity on the busway.

Enforcement will be carried out by police patrols and a dedicated “busway safety team,” both equipped with speed monitoring technology. Initially, offenders exceeding the speed limit will receive warnings, but those who repeatedly violate the rule may face fines.

The introduction of the speed limit follows a series of safety challenges along the busway, including the deaths of three cyclists involved in collisions with buses. Last year, the council was fined £6 million after pleading guilty to two health and safety breaches related to the busway’s operation. Subsequent safety improvements have included the installation of fences to separate cyclists and pedestrians from buses, but these changes have narrowed the shared path and raised concerns about increased collision risks among cyclists and pedestrians.

The new restrictions have received mixed reactions. Some cyclists have criticized the council, arguing that the speed limit unfairly penalizes them and serves as a means for the authority to limit its liability for accidents. In contrast, others have applauded the move, including former Conservative Party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith, who emphasized the need for cyclists to respect safety rules, especially on shared paths.

Cambridgeshire Constabulary acknowledged that speeding on the route has been a persistent issue and confirmed that ongoing work aims to address it to ensure the safety of local residents.