Council wants to hear your views on future of cycling
Residents in Rutherglen and Cambuslang are being urged to make their views on the future of cycling in the towns be known.
South Lanarkshire Council are drafting their first ever cycling strategy, and locals have until July 22 to have their say.
Rutherglen and Cambuslang have already been earmarked as “bike towns” by the local development trust while plans are being drawn up to create a new cycle route between the towns.
Cambuslang has even been put forward as the possible site for a new multi-million national cycle road-racing centre.
CamGlen Bike Town, part of Healthy ‘n’ Happy, will play a part in creating the council’s plan.
The council aims to improve the existing network, increase the numbers of people cycling and maximise the benefits to the economy and environment.
This will be done through three main themes: cycle infrastructure, promotion of cycling and cycle training.
The draft document also contains information on the funding and delivery of projects as well as how the strategy’s effectiveness will be measured.
A South Lanarkshire Cycle Partnership was established last year to look at all aspects of cycling in the area as well as forming the basis of the draft strategy.
Chair of the South Lanarkshire Cycle Partnership, and depute chair of the Council’s Enterprise Services Committee, Councillor Graham Simpson, said: “As a council we have invested a lot in recent years for cyclists in our area.
“However, we are always aware of the need to do more and keep promoting cycling as an alternative, sustainable form of transport as well as a fun, healthy activity for all the family.
“The draft strategy recognises this and sets out a clear indication of how we will move things forward.
“It also very deliberately lists specific schemes across all parts of South Lanarkshire that we want to achieve.
“This shows people the level of ambition we have and is a measure of how seriously we take this.
“Our hope is that by improving the infrastructure, people will be encouraged to cycle more, or even to take it up.
“I hope as many people as possible take the time to read it and we welcome any views they may have.
“I would also like to thank all the members of the Cycle Partnership for their time and efforts in helping us come up with a strategy which offers a comprehensive vision for cycling in the next five years in South Lanarkshire.”
The finalised version of the document will be published in the autumn.
Go to http://www.southlanarkshire.gov. uk/downloads/file/9684/cycling_strategy_ consultative_draft_2015_-_2020 to view the draft document.