Major events are good for Arran, despite disruption

It is reassuring to know that safety is the major consideration in this weekend’s cycling event.

Reassuring, too, is the commitment from the organisers that consideration towards other road-users will be part of the safety briefing.

Island-wide events such as these arouse strong feelings in people and it is important to remember that the roads on Arran are intended for all road-users, including cars, cyclists, caravans, motorhomes and even pedestrians.

More importantly, the condition of the road surfaces and the geography of the routes mean that kind and thoughtful consideration is essential on all sides.

It has been suggested that while inconvenience is inevitable, the best way of combating this is through widely disseminated information as often the irritation of events can be allayed by being better-informed.

The Arran Sportive being held today, Saturday, in aid of the young people’s development charity Ocean Youth Trust Scotland, seems to have achieved this.

The relevant organisations have been informed well in advance, permission has been obtained and safety procedures have been set in place.

Hopefully, by keeping everyone informed, inconvenience can be limited and everyone can be allowed to enjoy the experience.

While we find our feet with striking a balance between attracting large-scale events such as this and general inconvenience to the local population and other visitors, let us practice some patience and use these lessons to improve and set the standards for holding them.

It is also true that while there might be temporary inconvenience to drivers, it can also be seen as a small price to pay for inviting people not only to experience the many joys of Arran, but also to promote the island as a tourist destination.