Change must come on cycling

Sir, – I was delighted to open last week’s Cycling Scotland conference which was hosted – for the first time – by Dundee.

It is estimated that event will have brought in over £125,000 to the city’s economy over the two days.

Earlier in the day, I also took part in the opening of a new facility at Dundee Railway Station which will allow the safe storage of 120 bikes, protected by CCTV.

The Northern Links projects are merely the latest manifestation of the excitement around cycling that is building in the city.

Perhaps the most important request from cyclists is the need for good quality, segregated infrastructure.

When this is done right, there is no better pastime for individuals and families.

However, we must also ensure facilities are there for the functional cyclist going about their business around the city.

Looking more widely, if you want to encourage low emission zones cycling can have a vital role to play.

Likewise, if you want to see better air quality, healthier and fitter citizens and more social inclusion, cycling can have a vital role to play.

Attitudes will have to change and to cite two similar examples; who now would bring back cars into our high street or cigarette smoking into our restaurants and bars?

It is bold, transformational decisions such as these that councillors will need to take if we are going to re-balance the use of public space in favour of pedestrians and cyclists.

The car has dominated the use of our city streets for decades but I believe we are entering a period where cities across Scotland will start to challenge the “car is king” culture.

I’d like to think Dundee will lead on a public space renaissance that prioritises pedestrians, cyclists and public transport users over less sustainable forms of transport.

After all, Dundee is a city that has low levels of car ownership and therefore a high level of reliance on good bus services, well maintained footpaths and – increasingly – welldesigned cycling infrastructure.

Councillors would be doing a disservice to future generations if we do not gasp the nettle now and projects such as the Northern Links proposals will go a long way to tackling the societal issues we face, as well as meeting the expectations of the existing cycling community.

Cllr Kevin Cordell. City Chambers, Dundee.

Who would now bring cars back into our high street, or cigarette smoking into our restaurants and bars?