A Cambridge restaurateur has criticised a council’s “silly” decision to install public bike racks in his eatery’s outdoor dining area.
Andrea Scaramuccia, managing director of Italian restaurant Tradizioni on Mill Road, said he only learned of the plans when workers in hi-vis started measuring up on Wednesday.
In a post on social media, Mr Scaramuccia wrote: “The council has made the decision to install public bike racks directly in front of our restaurant, right where our outdoor tables have welcomed you for over a decade.”
He warned customers to “get ready to say goodbye to dining outside with us on Mill Road”.
He added: “We love cycling and fully champion active travel in Cambridge – this isn’t about being against bikes.
“But it is about the sharp contrast between the frequent promises to “listen to and support independent traders” and the reality of decisions pushed through without genuine consultation with the very businesses keeping Mill Road alive.
“Outdoor dining does far more than add a few extra covers. It brings vitality, warmth, natural surveillance, and that distinct neighborhood atmosphere that makes our street so unique.”
The project has since been paused after the post triggered a wave of support for the restaurant.
Mr Scaramuccia said he has been offered a meeting with the project manager and told alternative locations will now be sought.
Mill Road is currently undergoing a so-called “community co-design”.
An alliance led by Cambridgeshire County Council has asked urban designers 5th Studio to seek feedback on improvements to the strip.
Possible changes could include extra seating, crossings, trees and planters.
A controversial bus gate came into force on the street in 2025, banning vehicles except buses, emergency services, taxis and blue badge holders’ registered vehicles.
Cambridge Cycling Campaign has previously outlined its vision for a “healthy, thriving street” on its website, writing: “Imagine a street built around its community with round-the-clock access for businesses and residents, but without the pollution of through traffic.”
Alex Beckett, portfolio holder for highways and transport at Cambridgeshire County Council, wrote online that it has “come to my attention that an LHI (Local Highways Improvement scheme) to install bike racks on Mill Road would negatively impact local business, in particular Tradizioni.”
He said he had “asked that this installation be halted”, adding the bid came from local councillors.
“I understand the desire to move quickly in improvements for Mill Road, but they also need to be the right improvements,” he said.
Cambridge Cycling Campaign said putting bike racks outside the restaurant was a “strange decision given the recent community engagement and the need for a holistic vision for a better street, including space to attract people to visit and support local businesses”.
In a Facebook post, the group wrote: “Camcycle would like to see more cycle parking on Mill Road, but this needs to be carefully considered alongside other streetscape improvements.”
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