Time to hit the road with £10m boost for routes
Buddies are being urged to walk, cycle and wheel more during social distancing measures.
Transport bosses are spending £10 million on a new project for pop- up walking and cycling routes during the coronavirus crisis.
This will be supported by a package of guidance and support to local authorities from Transport Scotland and Sustrans Scotland for improvements such as widened pavements and cycle lanes.
Many towns and cities have seen increased rates of cycling as the number of car journeys have declined due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Authorities are responding to this by reallocating road space to better enable this shift and make it safer for people who choose to walk, cycle or wheel for essential trips or for exercise.
Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity, Michael Matheson said: “I’m pleased we are able to put forward a package of support for our local authorities to implement temporary active travel measures, helping to ensure that people can walk, cycle and wheel during this public health emergency whilst physically distancing and keeping safe from traffic.
“I have written to every local authority in Scotland to advise them that the ‘Spaces for People’ initiative is designed with agility and pace in mind.
“Our communities need this support quickly, especially with the welcome increases in cycling we are seeing across the country.
“At the same time, almost every journey starts and ends on our pavements in some way, and so it is vitally important that people can physically distance for those essential trips or for exercise.”
Lee Craigie, Active Nation Commissioner for Scotland added: “It has never been more important that we look after our own health and the health of members of our society who have limited access to such spaces.”
John Lauder, Deputy CEO at Sustrans Scotland said people want to look after their physical and mental health and the ‘Spaces for People’ programme will allow that.