£2m boost for active travel in Dundee

Dundee has won a massive £2m investment in active travel through the Spaces for People fund.

Pop-up commuter lanes, wider pavements, more small parks and fewer car parking spaces are likely changes after the local authority secured the large cash injection for cycling, walking and wheeling.

Travel charity Sustrans had previously agreed £450,000 in upgrades, including pedestrianising Union Street and creating 20mph zones.

Ninewells Hospital commuters will be one of the groups to benefit from a £700,000 spend on pop up cycle lanes to city “employment centres”.

The SNP’s Mark Flynn, depute city development convener, said: “We have brought forward another set of exciting and interesting projects that are based on encouraging safe active travel for pedestrians, wheelers and cyclists during the Covid period across the city.”

A council spokesman said the money would be spent on physical distancing measures in district centres, pop-up cycle lanes on commuter routes and upgrading existing routes.

Physical distancing measures in district centres will get £500,000, including setting up a community support fund to support business associations and community groups.

A council spokesman said it would carry out “community audits” before making changes.

The Dundee Green Circular route linking notable city landmarks will get £400,000, with council chiefs promising Scotland’s first sustainable “ring-road”.