Community Links. Cycling and walking projects for Scotland

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1 Community Links Cycling and walking projects for Scotland

2 Foreword The Scottish Government is rightly investing record amounts of funding in active travel in taking steps to tackle the key challenges that are facing us today. Such as physical inactivity, reducing harmful emissions, improving air quality and reducing congestion in our towns and cities, all of which are touched on to a greater or lesser extent by transport. We are committed to improving the lives of everyone in Scotland by building more and better active travel infrastructure that gives people the opportunity to choose cycling and walking as their main mode of travel for everyday, shorter journeys. I am proud to support the exemplary partnership that Sustrans and the Scottish Government are creating with stakeholders through the Community Links Programme and I am encouraged by local authorities appetite for more of the same. Through Community Links we are beginning to redefine our relationship with the built environment and making the necessary changes to allow people to enjoy the beautiful Scottish outdoors and to want to spend time there. With the vast majority of everyday trips, both in rural and urban Scotland being 5km or less, we need travel options that are non-polluting and puts people and place before vehicles. Cycling and walking provide those solutions and have the added benefit of enabling people to introduce more physical activity into their day, resulting in significant improvements in health and wellbeing and offering a fairly cheap travel option. As our Northern European neighbours have shown, active travel can be extremely enjoyable when you have the right infrastructure and environment in place. Through the Community Links Programme we are creating safe, pleasant and direct routes for everyone to enjoy. The Community Links Programme also helps to re-imagine Scotland s built environment to promote a sense of place in our streets. Sense of place is what gives us pride in our physical surroundings and sets Scotland s towns and cities apart from others around the world, attracting visitors and business investment. Evidence shows that people cycling and walking spend more money in small businesses, helping both our local and national economies to thrive. I look forward to seeing more Community Links projects being delivered in partnership with our stakeholders and importantly our communities across Scotland. Humza Yousaf MSP, Minister for Transport and the Islands 2 3

3 Introduction Sustrans Scotland s Community Links Programme has been providing grant funding for cycling and walking projects since In that time we ve funded the creation of over 700 projects which help people to walk or cycle for their everyday journeys. Every year, demand for funding has grown as communities across Scotland recognise the opportunity to make better connections to the places they want to get to. To meet this demand Transport Scotland s Sustainable Transport Team, within the Scottish Government, has increased investment in Community Links from 3m in 2010 to just under 20m in 2015 and our partner organisations have delivered projects with ever increasing levels of ambition and quality. The Cycling Action Plan for Scotland sets out a vision that By 2020, 10% of everyday journeys taken in Scotland will be by bike. By building on the success of Community Links to date, we are working hard to help Scotland to realise this vision. The collection of Community Links within this portfolio represent just a small sample of the huge variety of projects our partners have completed over the past six years. From safe routes to school in rural Argyll to segregated cycleways in the centre of Glasgow, these links all help to increase the number of people choosing to travel actively. Our aim is to highlight the value of simple, safe and convenient connections that people use regularly and that become a part of everyday life. We hope this will inspire communities and local authorities to create even more outstanding cycling and walking projects in future. 4 5

4 Themes While each project is unique, they all share certain themes which are essential to their success. We ve picked out some of the projects which exemplify each theme and inspire others to think differently about their public spaces, the journeys they make and the communities they live in. Everyday journeys By creating good infrastructure for people to travel by foot or by bike, we enable more people across Scotland to benefit from healthier, cleaner and cheaper travel choices. Communities Innovation Placemaking At its heart, the Community Links Programme is about encouraging people to enjoy being out and about in their community. By providing communities with the opportunity to shape their local environment, we are facilitating greater levels of walking and cycling. Community Links funding can allow our partners the freedom to explore ideas, solutions or concepts that help to prioritise people who cycle or walk. These projects provide inspiration and set useful precedents for others to follow. Great public spaces should be accessible, attractive and full of movement. Some of our favourite Community Links projects are those that clearly prioritise people and place over traffic flow, and make the most of the streetscapes that surround us. Enabling environments No project exists in isolation and the success of any new link depends on its context. Sometimes we need to change an element of the overall environment, such as lower speed limits or a congestion charge, to allow more ambitious and creative projects to flourish. 6 7

5 Index People across Scotland have benefitted from Community Links projects. We work with every Scottish local authority, the national parks, community groups, educational institutions, charities, businesses and not-for-profit organisations. Here is a selection of case studies that show the range and quality of projects delivered through the programme. More detailed technical information about each project is available on request River Lossie Cycleway page Dorrator Loop page South-West City Way page Dunblane Station, Access for All page Lowland Canals page Edinburgh to South Queensferry Link page Bo ness to Blackness page Innocent Path to the Meadows page Barleybank Public Space page Peterhead Cycle Town page Connecting the Hillfoots page Dunbeg Jubilee Path page Bears Way page The Helix Paths page Inverness Campus South Bridge page Irvine Cycle Friendly Town page Links to Borders Rail page Aldourie School Path page Connecting Seabraes to the Waterfront page The Causey page Galston to Newmilns page Seven Lochs Route Planning page Clickimin Path page

6 River Lossie Cycleway DELIVERED BY MORAY COUNCIL An invaluable new path along the banks of the River Lossie. A new traffic-free cycling and walking path passes through the middle of Elgin and on to the neighbouring village of Lhanbryde, providing local people with a safe, attractive and healthy alternative way to get around. The natural green corridor along the banks of the river provided an ideal location for the new path. Running close to the town centre, residential and industrial areas of Elgin, the path provides a direct and convenient option for people to cycle or walk to work, school or the shops. The views and sounds of the river makes journeys along the route pleasant and enjoyable. Previously, the only options for cycling between Elgin and Lhanbryde were to mix with traffic on the busy A96 trunk road or take a three kilometre detour. Local people can now enjoy a wide, level path with lighting, which is safe and comfortable. Moray Council worked closely with the River Lossie Trust, HITRANS and Elgin Common Good Fund to capitalise on flood alleviation works to help establish the new path. Sustrans volunteers in the area are very active and support the approach taken by Moray Council. 9km total route length opportunity created by flood defence scheme 5 new or replacement bridges for cycling and walking This project has scope for further development including linking to north and south routes and re-routing National Route 1 of the National Cycle Network to bring visitors into the settlements to benefit local businesses. Local resident Lorna (pictured) now cycles almost every day for trips to the shops and to see friends. The new route means she doesn t have to go near any busy roads

7 Dorrator Loop DELIVERED BY CENTRAL SCOTLAND GREEN NETWORK TRUST AND FALKIRK COUNCIL A dynamic partnership project supported by a local community group. More and more people in the Falkirk area are now enjoying walking and cycling for everyday journeys along the River Carron. This is thanks to forward thinking and strong partnerships. Falkirk Council and Central Scotland Green Network Trust (CSGNT) worked together to develop the concept for the loop and adopted the idea into Development Plans and strategies. Much of the match funding for the infrastructure came from Developer Contributions which was only possible through Falkirk Council s inclusion of the concept within these documents. Together these paths and bridges complete an attractive and convenient cycling and walking loop, linking key destinations in the area. Communities Along the Carron Association (CATCA) is a group of volunteers committed to regenerating the river. CATCA joined the partnership and took the lead in engaging with the community, promoting the Loop and encouraging local people to use the paths for short journeys. Together, the partnership has greatly increased the number of people walking and cycling in the area. Christine explains more: We consulted with all 16 communities along the river. Now use of the river as a recreational and commuter route has exploded. The new paths and bridges are amazing. They feel friendlier and safer, they look great, and, because they ve been built to a really high specification, they re open to people of all abilities mums with buggies use the new bridge to get to the shops, and people at the Forth Valley Hospital can use the path network. Sustrans is working with our schools and local businesses too all encouraging more people to be more active and healthy. Christine Bell, Chair of Communities Along the Carron Association (CATCA) % of people on the path use the network at least once a week 7x as many people are walking and cycling over the new Dorrator Bridge than the old one ¼ of people using the paths chose to walk and cycle rather than using a car for their journey

8 South- West City Way DELIVERED BY GLASGOW CITY COUNCIL Revolutionising the cycling environment in Glasgow with two kilometres of urban segregated cycleways. Innovative design details to prioritise cycling movements. Cycling between Glasgow city centre and the city s southern suburbs is now safer and more attractive with the installation of the South-West City Way. The route provides two kilometres of cycleway that s segregated from other traffic by kerbing, making it suitable for all cycling abilities. The route links the Tradeston Bridge in Glasgow city centre to the densely populated south-west suburb of Pollokshields. Before the cycleway was installed, the Tradeston Bridge already had an average of 600 bike trips a day and Pollokshields also had a high number of people cycling, but the cycling environment between the two was hostile due to multiple road lanes, heavy traffic and difficult road junctions. Innovative diagonal cycle Innovative infrastructure has been used across the South-West City Way to make cycling journeys convenient and safe: bus stop bypasses take the cycleway behind bus shelters along the route to avoid conflict with pedestrians; Glasgow s first diagonal cycle crossing allows cyclists to cross two arms of road traffic in one direct movement; and a green wave traffic signalling system keeps people on bikes moving continuously along the route from start to finish. For the majority of its length, a three metre wide track has been provided for two-way cycling. The South-West City Way is a popular commuter and leisure route for both cycling novices and veterans. It passes Shields Road and West Street subway stations, which provide cycle parking and give the opportunity for people to switch to the subway for part of their journey. crossing traffic lane removed for segregated cycleway 20% increase in cycle traffic across the Tradeston Bridge since the route was completed

9 Dunblane Station, Access for All DELIVERED BY STIRLING COUNCIL Local people helped shape the design 5 schools in the area were involved in creating artwork for the street Ambitious community street design project to transform a central area of Dunblane. Stirling Road is an important street in Dunblane as it links the bustling High Street to the railway station. Sustrans Scotland and Stirling Council have been working closely with the local community and businesses to reimagine the street. The aim is a space that feels more welcoming, is people friendly and inclusive. The team want to create a place that caters positively for people walking and cycling as well as those with reduced mobility. Dunblane benefits from a proactive and passionate community. Representatives from multiple community groups have played an active role in the project, by influencing the design at steering group meetings, promoting the work and organising engagement events. Residents and businesses in the area have also helped to shape the design with their local knowledge and aspirations for the street and town. This is an ambitious project that will see the entire street transformed with vibrant spaces for people to enjoy and travel through. The design will improve access to businesses on the street, and create a high quality place that people want to visit and spend time in. The design complements important assets in the area by creating spaces on the historic bridge over the Allan Water and alongside visually attractive Georgian and Victorian buildings. Pupils from the local primary and secondary schools have enjoyed working with artists to create mosaics and decorative signposts which form central features of the design. The artworks highlight and celebrate local wildlife and places of interest in the area. Stirling Council has led the detailed design process and the project will be constructed by the end of Residents in Dunblane, particularly those who live on Stirling Road, look forward to the proposed improvements to the streetscape. [There is] significant support for this area becoming a more relaxed public space with greater priority to pedestrians and cyclists. Tim Hughes, Dunblane Development Trust

10 Lowland Canals DELIVERED BY SCOTTISH CANALS 110km of towpath will be upgraded by Spring % increase in trips on the Forth and Clyde Canal towpaths between Linking communities through the Central Belt. A reliable, enjoyable green corridor for cycling and walking. Scotland s canals attract more than 22 million visitors each year and the towpaths provide fantastic places to walk or cycle and enjoy the rich heritage, wildlife and green space offered by the nation s waterways. Our partnership work with Scottish Canals is helping to ensure that the canal towpaths provide high quality active travel routes for everyone. The towpath network in the central belt provides traffic-free routes to schools, residential areas and local amenities across Scotland s central belt. In many instances, the towpaths provide the most direct link between key trip generators, offering an attractive alternative to driving for short journeys. Since the Community Links Programme began in 2011, Sustrans Scotland has invested over 4 million towards improvements on the Forth and Clyde and Union Canal towpaths to make them safe, convenient and easy to access. In the near future, the entire 110-kilometre Lowland towpath network will be hard surfaced, providing walking and cycling paths suitable for users of all abilities and in all weathers. Some of the key projects Community Links has supported include the creation of an extensive path network within The Helix project (see page 37), towpath upgrades at the Falkirk Wheel and Bowling Harbour, provision of lighting in the Falkirk Tunnel, installation of solar lighting studs along the towpath in north Glasgow, and hard surfacing large sections of the canal towpath. The regeneration along Glasgow s canal network is helping to revitalise and renew communities across our city. Liz Cameron, Bailie and Executive Member for Jobs and the Economy, Glasgow City Council Investment in the canal network is certainly paying off by bringing a massive boost to the local economy. Councillor Craig Martin, Leader of Falkirk Council Over 4m of Community Links funds invested since m trips on the Union Canal towpaths in

11 Edinburgh to South Queensferry Link DELIVERED BY THE CITY OF EDINBURGH COUNCIL Consistent quick journey times due to direct route Prioritised and uninterrupted travel by bike High quality cycle route for everyday travel. Travelling between Edinburgh and South Queensferry by bike is now quick, convenient and enjoyable. People can enjoy safe walking and cycling for the whole five-mile journey. Alongside the A90 dual carriageway, a new widened and elevated path has great views over open rolling fields, giving it a fresh air feel despite its proximity to a busy road. The rest of this section has also been widened and fully separated from the traffic using anti-glare safety barriers. On other sections, reduced speed limits have calmed the roads and people feel safer and more relaxed when travelling along or crossing. Elsewhere, signalised crossings have been re-aligned and people on bikes and foot have been given priority. As a result, a high standard route now runs between the off-road paths of Edinburgh, the Forth Bridges and into Fife. Many more people now cycle the convenient route between the two settlements for work and other journeys, while others use the route as a link to longer trips and for leisure. The route is part of the City of Edinburgh Council s Quiet Routes Network, which encourages new and less confident cyclists to make everyday journeys by bicycle. It is also part of National Route 1 of the National Cycle Network This A90 corridor is an extremely important part of the network linking commuters from Fife and Edinburgh to workplaces along this route and providing a safer route for children to cycle to school. Derek Mackay, Former Transport Minister, Scottish Government The changes have made a huge difference. I feel much safer and my ride is definitely more enjoyable. Good to see so many more people cycling too. James Bowler, who commutes along the route for work

12 Bo ness to Blackness DELIVERED BY FALKIRK COUNCIL 3x the number of trips on the path since the improvements Connecting communities along the Forth Estuary waterfront. A traffic-free path that enjoys great views. Residents of Bo ness and Blackness can now enjoy cycling and walking between their two communities thanks to a partnership between Falkirk Council, Falkirk Environment Trust, Scottish Natural Heritage, SportScotland, Blackness Area Community Council, Community Links and local landowners. The partnership has created a high quality, scenic link by reinstating a coastal path that had fallen into decline due to erosion. Following the bank of the River Forth, the path provides a safe off-road route between Bo ness and Blackness along the easiest gradient possible. Significant improvements to the coastline were required, so over a period of two years the team worked with specialist consultants to consider the engineering requirements, resulting in 1.6km of upgraded route. The link path to Bo ness is amazing, I can walk or cycle to town to pick up some shopping, attend a fitness class or pop out for a pint without having to get in the car. Our favourite weekend treat is to cycle as a family along the shore and go for tea and cakes. Thank you for finally making this long wished for path a reality. Helen Brown, local resident accessible coastal path 84% of route users say the path has helped them to be more physically active Local people now use the new path as part of their everyday travel and it has encouraged people who are less active to try cycling or walking. The project has opened up a large section of the waterfront for people with mobility difficulties as the route is now accessible for all users. In addition, this project has substantially improved a section of the long distance routes of the John Muir Way and Route 76 of the National Cycle Network. The project has been a huge success and the level of use of the path has trebled. Falkirk Council is continuing the route westwards to Kinneil to benefit more local people Many thanks to Falkirk Council, on behalf of our community, for playing such a major role in providing this high quality path, linking us once again with our friends and neighbours in Bo ness. Merv Archibald, Blackness Area Community Council

13 Innocent Path to the Meadows DELIVERED BY THE CITY OF EDINBURGH COUNCIL 7 metre wide on-demand toucan crossings Segregated cycleways on busy city centre streets Local community created murals transforming a forgotten corner of the city A modern city centre cycleway, linking key off-road paths. Edinburgh boasts good quality off-road cycling and walking paths. However, some of these paths aren t well connected. The City of Edinburgh Council has been tackling this problem and this is one of the first sections to be completed. Previously, there were a range of barriers to safe cycling and walking in the area. These included high traffic levels, a lack of space for people on foot or bike and difficult crossings. Now, segregated cycleways on main roads and new crossings overcome these issues to make it appealing to travel by foot or by bike. The segregated cycleways make cycling a safe, enjoyable experience and separate the pavements from the road. The new signalised crossings are very wide and give people walking and cycling priority and space. The community worked with an artist to create two murals which completely transformed the Gifford Park vennel a narrow lane between two buildings. The space was previously cluttered, unsightly and virtually unusable. By clearing the vennel, removing guard railing and brightening the space with the paintings it has become an important cycling and walking link. The new route is used by high numbers of students travelling to and from the nearby University of Edinburgh. It is also heavily used by people cycling to work and the shops as it allows cyclists to travel through busy parts of the city without dismounting. Importantly the route joins together other high quality routes to help create a consistent network This new [link] across the south of Edinburgh is aimed at encouraging families and less confident cyclists to have a go. This is one of many exciting cycling projects and I look forward to seeing the network grow as we continue to invest in cycling infrastructure. Councillor Lesley Hinds, Transport Convener, City of Edinburgh Council Although [it s] called Meadows-Innocent, many people just use sections of the route for example for local shopping. So the scheme is improving cycling accessibility for the local area and a wide range of trips, just as much as it is a complete route. Dave du Feu, Spokes the Lothian Cycle Campaign

14 Barleybank Public Space DELIVERED BY EAST DUNBARTONSHIRE COUNCIL New space for community events Attractive new access to the canal Transformation of a neglected urban space that now has a great sense of place. A small public space in Kirkintilloch has been dramatically improved to create a new and vibrant area for the town. Sitting alongside the historic Forth and Clyde Canal and the striking St. Mary s church, the space is now a venue for community events, outdoor markets or simply a place to sit and enjoy the scenery. Barleybank was redeveloped as part of the Kirkintilloch Town Centre Masterplan which aims to promote active travel by prioritising cycling and walking through good quality streetscapes and public spaces. Relocating a car park access road reduced traffic levels in the town centre by directing vehicles to the bypass. It also created a great opportunity to make a much larger and more useful public space. The canal is recognised as a major asset to the town centre and its visitors. However, prior to the redevelopment work it was inaccessible for people with mobility difficulties. A new attractive ramp allows people to explore the canal towpath and off-road network which links Kirkintilloch to other towns, villages and the City of Glasgow. Seating, greenery and high quality paving help create a distinctive gateway into the town centre which encourages people to visit the local shops. Artwork created by local schools and a community group celebrates the history of the area and form important features of the space. A time capsule buried in the centre of the paving reveals the local community s sense of pride for the town. I think the changes make for a much-improved environment in the town centre and will hopefully improve the flow of traffic in the town, while allowing pedestrians much more freedom of movement. Gerry McGarry, Local Teacher We need to protect and enhance the town centre wherever possible, making it a better place to visit, shop, eat out and live, now and in the future. I m fully behind the Kirkintilloch Masterplan and its aims. Peter Ciacca, Local Businessman 26 27

15 Peterhead Cycle Town DELIVERED BY ABERDEENSHIRE COUNCIL Infrastructure improvements alongside promotion to change the way a whole town travels has resulted in well-used and highly appreciated cycling and walking facilities. The most effective Community Links projects are generally those where infrastructure improvements and promotion have been run in parallel. To this end, Sustrans Scotland has supported Aberdeenshire Council s Peterhead Cycle Demonstration Town since 2008, with great success. Residents and visitors can now enjoy 19km of cycling and walking paths in and around the town. To generate excitement and enthusiasm around the new infrastructure, local people also benefitted from a wide range of promotional events and resources. These included roadshows, training events, web-hosted cycle challenges, route maps and guided rides. All of this has been supported by strong and consistent marketing and publicity through new websites, outdoor media, social networking and local radio campaigns. It s a real pleasure to see people being active and enjoying these facilities, and knowing that we are putting in place infrastructure and facilities that will support many generations to come. Councillor Jill Webster, former Provost of Aberdeenshire Over 250 riders attracted by a new, annual family bike ride organised by community members Promotional activities to get the community involved The results have been fantastic with surveys across the town showing that cycle levels have increased significantly since One of the new paths, the A90 Missing Link, created a shared use path running adjacent to the A90 Peterhead bypass, saw the number of cycling and walking journeys more than triple in one year, with almost 35,000 journeys taken in Town wide approach The project has been a great success due to strong buy-in from the local community and the town-wide, strategic approach taken by the council. Future developments will include new cross-town, town centre and coastal cycle routes, more community partnerships and the ongoing monitoring of cycle use in the town and surrounding area. 19km of routes and paths in Peterhead 28 29

16 Connecting the Hillfoots DELIVERED BY CLACKMANNANSHIRE COUNCIL Connecting the communities of Clackmannanshire by foot and bike. A network to celebrate. Year on year, Clackmannanshire Council has built up a series of Community Links projects which together form a safe route connecting all of the communities along the foot of the Ochil Hills and tying into the existing Devon Way. By combining a number of projects over a sustained period, this small local authority has been able to build up an extensive, enviable active travel network. 2011/12: Cambus to Menstrie Two kilometers of new path on the line of a disused railway, a new bridge deck over the River Devon, a section of walking and cycling friendly road, a newly surfaced existing track and on-street route signing links the settlements of Cambus and Menstrie. 2012/13: Menstrie to Blairlogie A new section of shared use pavement between the settlements of Menstrie and Blairlogie allows local residents to access the towns of Stirling and Bridge of Allan by foot or bike. Area wide network created by a series of projects We ve been using the new cycle path with specialist adapted bikes. It s great to cycle, walk or use wheel chairs to enjoy the outdoors. Local inclusive cycling group 2013/14: Alva to Tillicoultry Alva and Tillicoultry are now connected by a high quality cycling and walking path, which is set apart from the nearby A91 carriageway. New fencing, planting and landscaping and even rebuilding part of a tee for the neighbouring golf club all helped ensure the highest quality of path was possible. The path is now a safe, direct and convenient way for local children to walk, bike or scoot to school at Alva Academy. 2014/15: Tillicoultry to Dollar A three metre wide sealed surface, active travel route linking the villages of Tillicoultry and Dollar to Strathdevon Primary School, Dollar Civic Centre and Dollar Community Health Centre. It completes the last section of the Hillfoots and Alloa to Dollar route. The paths have since been selected for Sustrans Greener Greenways project, a large scale project to survey, protect and enhance biodiversity along traffic-free paths

17 Dunbeg Jubilee Path DELIVERED BY ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL Requested by the Community Safe route to school Links into National Cycle Network Safely connecting a school to its community in rural Argyll. The local community of Dunbeg was very concerned about child safety and traffic congestion caused by the school dropoff. Parents and teachers set up a vehicle drop-off zone and walking bus system to manage the congestion, but more could be done to remedy the situation. In response to requests from members of the community, Argyll and Bute Council utilised funding from the Community Links and LEADER Programmes to create a safe route to Dunbeg Primary School. The route links the residential area of Dunbeg village to the primary school with a 250 metre long path and timber bridge. The local community were heavily involved with the path creation. At the path s opening event the community council, community members and the school s pupils and staff came together and officially named the route The Jubilee Path. It provides a safe, pleasant and convenient option for making journeys by foot or by bike away from conflict with vehicles, and has successfully eased traffic congestion at the school gates. The path has additionally become a social asset for local people, which has been particularly important since the closure of the community hall. As part of the project, the consultants TP&E delivered an assembly to the school about the construction of the path, using the topic of site safety and engineering work to cover subjects in the school curriculum. The path also connects the eastern part of the village to The Caledonia Way, Route 78 of the National Cycle Network and provides a safe route for walking or cycling to Oban and has been used for school outings with the pupils The children want to walk more. My child now asks to walk rather than go to school in the car. The children like to take their time walking along the path to and from school. They chat and socialise. In school they re always taking about who they saw or spoke to on the path. Before the route was there I occasionally ran on the road if I wanted to exercise but now I run on the route which links well to the NCN and it has made me more mobile. Lots of residents [use] the route as it is away from the traffic. Quotes from the community

18 Bears Way DELIVERED BY EAST DUNBARTONSHIRE COUNCIL Over 1100 cycle trips are taken on the new path on average each week Bike priority over 4 road junctions along the route 3 bus stop bypasses The beginnings of a new era of transport infrastructure in East Dunbartonshire. A segregated cycleway alongside the busy A81. A new 1.3 kilometre cycleway has provided a much-improved environment for both cycling and walking between Burnbrae Roundabout on the outskirts of Milngavie and Hillfoot Station in Bearsden. The cycleway allows people who are not confident cycling on what is a busy road to make local trips, commute, travel to the train station or visit Mugdoch Country Park by bike. In East Dunbartonshire Council delivered the first phase of what will ultimately be an allabilities, traffic-free link from Milngavie Station to Glasgow City Centre, a key commuting corridor. Using funding from Community Links and Strathclyde Partnership for Transport, the Council replaced advisory cycle lanes along the busy A81 with a fully kerb-separated, bi-directional cycleway. The Council s work to improve active travel and the public realm in the area was nationally recognised when the project won a Scottish Transport Award for Achievements in Cycling. The Council continues to promote the route through the local media, with short video interviews on its website and using social media, as well as with signage, adverts and branding along the length of the cycleway itself I feel really safe using the cycleway. This will definitely encourage more people to cycle. I think there should be more cycleways like this. It s a positive move forward. I think it s fantastic. Quotes from users of Bears Way I basically bought this bike because of the Bears Way [it s] the best thing since sliced bread. My car s sitting in the garage this afternoon... a win, win situation. Local resident and new cyclist

19 The Helix Paths DELIVERED BY THE HELIX TRUST 16 communities connected by the paths 27km of high quality paths An extensive new network of paths connecting the communities around the iconic new green space. A great example of partnership working. Best known as the home of The Kelpies, The Helix has regenerated 350 hectares of land between Falkirk and Grangemouth into a new urban green space. It features an imaginative combination of cultural heritage, structural engineering and environmental features. A partnership of Falkirk Council, Falkirk Community Trust, Scottish Canals and Central Scotland Green Network Trust have been supported with Community Links funding for the design and delivery of The Helix path network since There are now more than 27km of high quality walking and cycling paths throughout the site, connecting to the 16 local communities around its boundaries. The network links into several long distance walking and cycling routes including National Routes 76 and 754 of the National Cycle Network and The John Muir Way. The new paths also form part of a 16 mile cycle route connecting local attractions such as The Helix, The Kelpies, The Falkirk Wheel and Callendar House. The Helix has rejuvenated the existing Forth and Clyde Canal by upgrading the towpaths in the area for people to walk and cycle. One kilometre of new canal with accessible towpaths was built to provide an attractive and safe walking and cycling link between Grangemouth and Scotland s extensive canal towpath network. Future plans for The Helix focus on increasing sustainable travel to the park - over 2 million people have visited since the park opened in April Investment in local cycling enterprises is providing more opportunities for people to cycle and increased promotion is encouraging commuting and recreational travel by bike and foot. With the new Helix paths and the growing cycle network in the Falkirk area, you can cycle for miles without ever going near a road. Ben Williams, Sustainability Officer, The Helix The path is great, it really makes us feel like part of the Helix now. Local resident 36 37

20 Inverness Campus South Bridge DELIVERED BY HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS ENTERPRISE Over 1400 people cycle or walk the new link every week A big business and education destination connected to the heart of the city. At Inverness Campus, Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) designed in low carbon transport options from the start. The core Campus area offers priority to people walking and cycling and the site is well served with a network of footpaths and cycleways, connecting to the nearby Life Science district and Inverness City Centre beyond. The South Bridge provides an essential new walking and cycling link over the railway line, linking the local communities east of Inverness with the local Retail and Business Park, Inverness Campus and onward links to the hospital and the city centre. The route was created by utilising an existing agricultural bridge and creating 500 metres of new path, offering an attractive, direct and traffic-free alternative to the much longer route along the busy A9 and A96 trunk roads. The bridge is very well used by people cycling and walking: between February and September 2016, over 50,000 journeys were made over the South Bridge. Over 11,000 of those trips were by bike about 50 per day. It is not only Campus users that walk or cycle the route; locals use the bridge to access a variety of shops and leisure facilities. The Campus is a great example of the provision of safe, pleasant and well thought through cycle facilities leading to a marked increase in the numbers of people cycling to their place of work or study. Karen Thomson, Senior Manager, Highlands & Islands Enterprise Match funding from Highlands and Islands Enterprise Campus area offers priority to pedestrians and cyclists 38 39

21 Irvine Cycle Friendly Town DELIVERED BY NORTH AYRSHIRE COUNCIL Behaviour change projects were coordinated to complement the infrastructure work Local community and businesses heavily involved A town-wide strategy to encourage more cycling and walking in North Ayrshire s largest town. During 2013, Irvine s residents and businesses were invited to work with North Ayrshire Council to generate ideas to make the town more cycle friendly. The council produced a questionnaire, provided pop-up information stands and hosted events where local people were encouraged to join in. The aim was to think long-term about improvements that would fundamentally change the way people travel throughout Irvine. As a former new town, Irvine benefits from an extensive path and open space network, but residents felt that these weren t being used to their full potential. In particular, the town contains a number of underpasses and footbridges crossing wide, fast roads, causing concerns about safety. Irvine Cycle Friendly Town is still in its early stages, but already three and a half kilometers of new cycle paths have been built, along with other improvements, including dropped kerbs, cycle counters and additional cycle parking and signage, while local businesses have been assisted in supporting their staff to walk or cycle to work. A project to renovate and upgrade an uninviting underpass in the main shopping area will accompany other actions to make the town centre feel more people-friendly in the coming year. Irvine Cycle Friendly Town has been a success thanks to the combination of improved paths and routes along with community and business engagement. Businesses have been supporting their staff with bike maintenance sessions and free bike repair kits. This has resulted in more school children, commuters and older residents getting on their bikes as part of their day to day life. The improvements have benefitted the area as a whole, local people, people working in the area and local businesses. The project has improved the overall accessibility of the town and Enterprise Area and made it more attractive and marketable Employees within the Enterprise Area are now regularly using the paths for travel to and from work and for lunch time walks. Marion Francis, Irvine Bay Regeneration Company 40 41

22 Links to Borders Rail DELIVERED BY MIDLOTHIAN COUNCIL, SCOTTISH BORDERS COUNCIL AND NETWORK RAIL A blueprint for cycle-rail integration in rural Scotland. Quality paths for everyday trips to stations. During planning and construction of the new Borders Railway line, Sustrans Scotland worked in close partnership with Midlothian Council, Scottish Borders Council and Network Rail to identify and implement active travel links to all stations. Both councils were keen to make all stations as accessible as possible by foot or by bike and so matched Community Links funds against the pathways created by Network Rail as part of the project. The resulting links provide safe and easy access to all the communities along the line, and tie in with excellent cycle storage facilities at every station. Six Community Links funded projects in the Scottish Borders Council area now provide good walking and cycling access to new stations at Tweedbank and Galashiels, including: A new path, including a toucan crossing, linking Tweedbank to its new railway station A walking and cycling link to Clovenfords and Galashiels town centre Well-lit, cycle-friendly ramp linking Wood Street in Galashiels to the path alongside the railway Community Links funded projects in the Midlothian Council area now provide safe and easy access to new stations and include: New toucan crossings and shared use paths allowing people to cross the busy A7 to access Newtongrange Station. A link across the railway connecting Bonnyrigg cycleway to Eskbank Station. Network Rail worked extremely productively with Sustrans, Scottish Borders Council and Midlothian Council to ensure that safe routes to and through stations were created. Together, these links help to make the Borders Railway a modern, safe and accessible railway. Carol Deveney, Network Rail 42 43

23 Aldourie School Path DELIVERED BY THE HIGHLAND COUNCIL 80% of adults on the path said that their children use the path at least once a week 100% of people surveyed said they felt safer using the path instead of the road A community-led cycling and walking path to be proud of. Connecting a community and school in the Scottish Highlands. Pupils at Aldourie Primary School near Loch Ness, can now walk and cycle to school safely thanks to the creation of a new 700 metre path. Before the installation of the path, pupils living to the north east of the school who wanted to travel to school by foot, bike or scooter had to use the busy B862 road. This was a major barrier for parents allowing their children to travel to school alone and many parents chose to drive their children to school. Since its opening, the number of children being driven to school has fallen and many parents now allow their children to travel to school along the new path unaccompanied. The path is also being used by the school as a teaching resource, for cycle training, physical education and cross country running, mini-beast hunts and nature watching and even maths projects. It is also regularly used by members of the local community, as well as cycle tourists visiting Loch Ness, as there are great views of the countryside from the path. The path is now part of The Caledonia Way, National Route 78 of the National Cycle Network, which runs all the way from Campbeltown at the southern tip of the Mull of Kintyre to Inverness in the north. It s a lot easier than cycling on the road and it s a lot safer. This will definitely encourage more people to cycle. I would let my kids come up from the village to the school and up the path and back again because I know it s safe. People are more likely to take that route now that there is the path. It will take a lot of people off the main road. It will make a big difference. Quotes from users of the new path 44 45

24 Connecting Seabraes to the Waterfront Bridging significant barriers to cycling and walking. A major project in Dundee has transformed the walking and cycling experience on the River Tay esplanade and improved walking and cycling connections between the city s waterfront area and the University of Dundee, Seabraes Digital Media Park and the West End of the city. Delivered in partnership with Dundee City Council as part of its wider Waterfront Plan, the project consisted of two separate stages: The reduction of an existing four-lane dual carriageway down to two lanes, reallocating road space to pedestrians and cyclists and creating two new controlled crossing points. DELIVERED BY DUNDEE 2 CITY COUNCIL The construction of a new landmark bridge spanning 49 metres across the main east coast rail line. The new bridge was designed to align with one of the new controlled crossing points, linking the University and surrounding area to the existing green circular cycle route and National Route 77 of the National Cycle Network. 49 metre bridge across the main east coast rail line carriageway lanes removed Before the bridge was constructed there was approximately a mile in distance between the existing crossing points over the railway line. The new bridge is already experiencing high levels of use and is a modern, elegant structure that will encourage more sustainable travel in the future. During construction of the bridge, the contractor engaged local primary schools in curriculum support activities. In conjunction with the Institution of Civil Engineers and Dundee City Council, the contractor carried out a two-day workshop called Bridges to Schools in which the school pupils built and walked across their own twelve metre cable-stayed bridge and learned about civil engineering, teamwork and communication in the process. From a staff point of view, and customers, [the new bridge and path is] a brilliant thing. Tesco Staff Member 62% of respondents say the route enhances the area 46 47

25 The Causey DELIVERED BY THE CAUSEY DEVELOPMENT TRUST AND THE CITY OF EDINBURGH COUNCIL Over 500 people each day were attracted by the hugely popular trial Local community wants to see a people friendly space Inspirational community driven placemaking scheme to rebalance the streetscape for people to enjoy. When people feel relaxed, comfortable and stimulated by their surroundings, walking or cycling become more appealing travel options. Creating a place where people are prioritised over vehicles is a main objective of The Causey project in Edinburgh. The project began as part of the Six Cities Design Festival, when a neglected and cardominated traffic island was temporarily transformed into a vibrant tropical islandthemed space for local people to enjoy. The event was a great success and highlighted the powerful effect that good quality public space can have on people s happiness and health. This was the catalyst for members of the local community to form the Causey Development Trust (CDT) and pursue the permanent transformation of the area into a people space. Sustrans Scotland was delighted to assist the trust with support from the urban design team and Community Links funding. CDT involved as many people as possible in the design process, and ensured that everyone s input was valued. The design removes road space to create a flexible, interesting place for the community, which will play host to community events recreating the buzz of the historically significant meeting place. The proposals aim to make an inspiring place where people feel welcome when walking or cycling through the area. The designs celebrate the history of the area and the surrounding architecture. There are places to sit and relax and the Trust, with the support of Edinburgh World Heritage Trust, has purchased an ex-police box to be used as a community information point. The City of Edinburgh Council is working in partnership with CDT to deliver the detailed design and build of this exciting project. We re delighted that The City of Edinburgh Council, in partnership with CDT, has appointed a design team to develop a final design for The Causey, based on the ideas and aspirations of local people. David Wood, Chair of The Causey Development Trust

26 Galston to Newmilns DELIVERED BY EAST AYRSHIRE COUNCIL supporting local economy Important asset to the annual walking festival A valuable local link to improved health and well-being. A new off-road path is enabling the residents of Galston in East Ayrshire to improve their health and well-being by walking or cycling around the local area. The traffic-free route links into surrounding housing and is safe and pleasant for everyone to use, including children travelling to the local recreational grounds. The path is wide, level and lit with solar lighting to allow everyone, including disabled users, to travel along it at all times of day. A local contractor delivered the project as their first cycling path and has achieved a high quality finish. Delivered in partnership with Strathclyde Partnership for Transport and East Ayrshire Council, the cycle route has been delivered in two phases. The shared use path delivered in the first phase is an extension of the popular and well-used Sir Chris Hoy Way which links Galston to the nearby village of Hurlford. The traffic-free path was extended to connect to local housing, then follows quiet residential roads through Galston village to the local recreation ground. The second phase of the project has continued the traffic-free path to the periphery of neighbouring community Newmilns. Future phases of the project will upgrade the existing route from this point to complete the link into the centre of Newmilns. The Kilmarnock Active Travel Hub is promoting the new route and led-rides have been organised on the new path. The path will also be an important additional asset for the annual Irvine Valley Walking Festival Getting people out of their cars and walking and cycling more is a priority. Funding projects like this, which provide valuable connections for people, is key to achieving this goal. As this project progresses it will connect East Ayrshire with South Lanarkshire and the Ayrshire Coast, allowing people to use this path to commute, for leisure or for even longer journeys. Councillor Bobby McDill, East Ayrshire Council and Member of Strathclyde Partnership for Transport This new path is important to the local community helping to encourage people to keep fit and healthy. The path is lit by award-winning active road stud technology This means the path is literally being used day and night. Councillor Tom Cook, Spokesperson for Improving Community Safety, East Ayrshire Council

27 Seven Lochs Route Planning DELIVERED BY GLASGOW AND CLYDE VALLEY GREEN NETWORK PARTNERSHIP 78% of journeys to the park, under a mile, are currently made by car Study helped secure additional funding from Transport Scotland and CSGNT Comprehensive study crossing council boundaries, highlighting opportunities to make active travel easier and more enjoyable. The Seven Lochs Wetland Park covers almost twenty square kilometres across the Glasgow City and North Lanarkshire Council boundary. Glasgow and Clyde Valley Green Network Partnership (GCVGNP) with support from Central Scotland Green Network Trust undertook a large number of studies to identify gaps and barriers in the existing cycling and walking networks. Local people completed surveys about how they would currently travel and what measures they d like to see to enable them to walk or cycle more frequently. The studies and survey data led to the development of sixteen route proposals linking key community facilities, including Easterhouse and Coatbridge town centres, schools and colleges, leisure facilities, health centres and business parks. The proposals were presented and refined at stakeholder workshops where partner organisations identified a further ten potential projects. The process helped to facilitate conversations about active travel links across the two councils boundary. The study highlighted the importance of improving links across the M8 motorway and creating a continuous parallel cycle route from Coatbridge to Glasgow. It also enabled GCVGNP to make a successful bid to Transport Scotland for detailed design studies for the Monkland Canal Line and a proposal for Scotland s first green bridge across the M73 motorway. A framework was developed to assess the impacts of developing and promoting walking and cycling facilities in the park. This helped ensure robust monitoring and evaluation and facilitated important assessments, such as cost-benefit analysis and social return on investment. Community Links funding is helping to further the development and ongoing implementation of the proposed walking and cycling network in and around the park. The Seven Lochs Project area will see major new development in the coming years, with 4,500 new homes planned to The study has helped identify opportunities to improve walking and cycling routes for existing communities, and will also inform the planning and design of new developments. Scott Ferguson, Seven Lochs Project Coordinator Includes design development for Scotland s first green bridge

28 Clickimin Path DELIVERED BY SHETLAND ISLANDS COUNCIL 24% increase in cycling and walking trips 91% of residents surveyed said the path upgrade enhances the area Changing travel behaviours in Lerwick. A high quality path for daily trips. Clickimin Loch sits between the town of Lerwick and a large area of housing, Westerloch, on the mainland of the Shetland Isles. Set in a beautiful area that is rich with wildlife, the loch has a Bronze Age broch on its banks and is popular with the local community as a recreational resource. An existing path around the loch linked two local primary schools to the local leisure centre and the site of the new Anderson High School which is due to be completed in However the path was very narrow, uneven and had steep gradients, meaning it was poorly used. Shetland Island Council identified the opportunity to use capital investment from the new school project to upgrade the paths around the loch. Walking and cycling to school is now an appealing and convenient option. Local children and the community enjoy a really high quality path which is three metres wide, with street lighting and greatly reduced gradients. The local primary schools were involved in the planning and delivery of the project, as well as local community groups, such as the Sandveien Neighbourhood Association and Sound Community Association. The old path was too narrow for cycling and it was in a bad state of repair. Community Links funding was the ideal opportunity to build a new one! We now have a lovely wide path that is used by young and old, disabled people, dog walkers and cyclists. Everyone that uses the path loves it and it is getting busier and busier every day. Elaine Skinley, Road Safety Officer, Shetland Islands Council 89% of residents surveyed said the path upgrade meets the needs of the community 54 55

29 How to apply If you have a project you think would make a good Community Link, you can talk to us about the best way to take your project forward. We may also be able to arrange a site visit to have a look at your proposals. All Community Links funded projects must be 50% match funded and must demonstrate that they contribute to the objectives of the programme. Local authorities are the principal delivery partners for Community Links projects as they can show a strong track record of delivering quality projects within the required time frame. However, other applicants such as national parks, universities, trusts and larger charitable organisations have all received funding in the past. Full details of how to apply are available in our Community Links Guide, which is available to download from our website: community-links-grant-programme-0 Once you have a clear plan in place, you can submit an application to our online portal, which is open year-round for submissions. If you need advice on a project that you think may be suitable for Community Links funding, please contact the team at community.links@sustrans.org.uk or call

30 Partnership Community Links would not exist without our enthusiastic, dedicated partners and the continued support of Transport Scotland. We would like to thank all of the organisations and individuals with whom we have worked in order to deliver these fantastic projects. They have given more people in Scotland the opportunity to make healthier, cleaner, more affordable journeys. It s not possible to list every organisation and individual that we have partnered with over the last five years but here is a list of partners that delivered and promoted the projects featured in this document: Midlothian Council Scottish Borders Council Network Rail Argyll and Bute Council East Ayrshire Council Clackmannanshire Council Shetland Islands Council The City of Edinburgh Council Spokes Moray Council Falkirk Council Falkirk Environment Trust Scottish Natural Heritage SportScotland Dunblane Development Trust Dunblane BID Dunblane in Bloom The Causey Development Trust East Dunbartonshire Council Kirkintilloch Masterplan Champions Group Friends of the Bears Way Dundee City Council Glasgow City Council Scottish Canals Glasgow and Clyde Valley Green Network North Lanarkshire Council North Ayrshire Council Aberdeenshire Council Blackness Area Community Council River Lossie Trust The Highland Council Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) Central Scotland Green Network Trust Stirling Council Dunblane Community Council Highlands and Islands Enterprise Communities Along the Carron Association The Highland and Island Transport Partnership (HITRANS) South East of Scotland Transport Partnership (SEStran) The Transport Partnership for Aberdeen City and Shire (nestrans) Tayside and Central Scotland Transport Partnership (TACTRAN) Local Councillors, local landowners, local volunteers 58 Community Links Cycling and walking projects for Scotland. Published by Sustrans Scotland, Compiled by Anna Ronayne. Icons created by Piotrek Chuchla, OCHA Visual Information Unit, Siddharth Dasari, Dmitry Mirolyubov, Chris Evans, Mister Pixel, Arthur Shlain, Melvin Poppelaars, Ann Fandrey, Stanislav Levin, parkjisun, Ilsur Aptukov, Pierre-Luc Auclair, Christopher Holm-Hansen, DTE MEDIA, Piotrek Chuchla, Icon Fair, Carla Gom Mejorada, Eden Clairicia, Le Hoang, Edward Boatman, Claire Jones, Andrea Harris, Aaron K. Kim, Creative Stall, Brennan Novak and Nikita Kozin from the Noun Project. Report design and layout by Transform Creative (transformcreative.org.uk), 2016.