The Highland Council is encouraging members of the public to participate in events designed to get feedback about the proposed designs for a cycle route through Inverness.
The project is an extension of the proposed Academy Street improvements for people walking and wheeling.
Feedback will be sought on two proposed cycle routes in the city centre, designed to facilitate cycling across the city by connecting Millburn Road to the existing cycle routes on Ness Walk and Huntly Street.
The first route being put forward would utilise the Eastgate Underpass to connect to the existing cycle route on the High Street before ultimately connecting to Bridge Street. The second route would access Falcon Square and Inglis Street. In both scenarios, the plan would be to reconfigure Bridge Street to accommodate a cycle connection by reducing the width of the carriageway.
The Highland Council has secured funding through ‘Places for Everyone’ for the design of Academy Street, with the aim of making it a more attractive and healthier place for people to walk, wheel, and cycle. ‘Places for Everyone’ is a scheme funded by the Scottish Government through Transport Scotland and is administered by Sustrans.
Meanwhile the Council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee have approved plans to introduce School Street Zones at four primaries as part of a pilot scheme to create more attractive conditions for pupils to walk, cycle, scoot, or wheel to and from school.
School Street Zones are when the roads around a school are temporarily restricted to motorised vehicles on each school day, during set times when pupils are being dropped off / picked up. Residents who live on the restricted roads are permitted to continue to use their vehicles. Access for doctors and utility companies etc is also permitted.
The pilot will look to work in partnership with school communities at Duncan Forbes Primary and Bishop Eden Primary in Inverness, Kirkhill Primary near Beauly and Pennyland Primary in Caithness to develop the zones.
(Picture – Highland Council)
