'Delight' at busway fencing after cyclist death

The family of a cyclist who died in a crash on a guided busway said they were "delighted" that new safety measures have been installed in the wake of his death.

Steve Moir, 52, fell into the path of an oncoming bus when he clipped the kerb separating him from the busway in Cambridge in September 2018.

On Saturday the busway, between Cambridge railway station and the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, fully reopened after it closed for six weeks while fencing was installed.

Cambridgeshire County Council, which manages the route, said it "would not be appropriate to comment further" because it faced legal action by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Three people have died in separate busway incidents in Cambridgeshire between 2015 and 2021, with a fourth suffering life-changing injuries.

In a family statement, released by Rob Moir, Steve's brother, he said: "The Moir family is delighted that, finally, action has been taken to install fencing ensuring that other families do not have to endure heartache and grief due to the completely unnecessary death of a loved one."

He said his brother was unable to avoid a collision "due to the design of the system".

"The outcome would have been completely different if a fence separating the busway from the maintenance track had been in place at the time."

He said only after another pedestrian, Kathleen Pitts, 52, was struck on the same section, as Steve, in October 2021, was action taken.

"From the many comments received since Steve’s death, we know how much the people of Cambridge will appreciate feeling safer when using the maintenance track, especially parents of the many children who journey along that stretch," he added.

The authority said work on the last section of the busway started on 25 February and returned to two-way operation on Saturday.

The maintenance track from Hills Road bridge to Long Road bridge, which runs alongside the busway for cycling, walking and running, is not due to open until 6 April.

In May 2023, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said it planned to start legal proceedings against the county council amid safety concerns.

The authority could see legal costs of £1.6m as it faces prosecution over the deaths of three people on the busway.

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