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Cycling, Riding and Walking Friendly Roads

Cycling, Riding and Walking Friendly Roads

Cycle Friendly Roads in Clackmannanshire

In 2002 Sustrans (the Sustainable Transport Charity) were awarded a grant by the Scottish Executive to undertake a programme of work to benefit non-motorised vehicles. The aim was to create traffic conditions on minor roads which would make them safer and more attractive to walkers, cyclists and equestrians.

In 2003 the Rural Minor Road Traffic Calming guide was published and communities were asked to bid to become a demonstration project. Clackmannanshire Council put forward the C52 - Clackmannan to Kincardine Cycle Friendly Road Scheme and was successful in becoming one of six demonstration projects taken forward.

Our Demonstration Project

Our project involved the routing of the NCN 76 along the C52 to provide a pedestrian and cycle link to the new Clackmannanshire Bridge and included the reduction of the speed limit from 60mph to 40mph, gateway signs, speed limit repeater signs incorporating cycle route signs and bands of green textured surfacing placed at 300m intervals. The scheme proved popular with residents, cyclists and elected members and saw accident rates and speeds fall.

Developing Cycle Friendly Roads in Clackmannanshire

Following the success of our demonstration project and the need to improve our active travel network we then looked to introduce other Cycle Friendly Roads. First we set out the criteria that worked for our area:

• Traffic volume below 800 vehicles daily
• Speed limits to be implemented in line with 85th percentile measurements or where perceived speeds are below 30mph
• Routes already used by pedestrians, cyclists and equestrians
• Where pedestrians, cyclists and equestrians could be easily redirected
• Provides a link to existing infrastructure
• Has the support of the community, emergency services and elected members.

Where are we now?

Nearly all our minor rural roads now have Cycle Friendly Road status:

1 designated as a Cycle friendly road
1 designated as a Cycling, riding and walking friendly road
5 designated as Walking and cycling friendly roads

All have different characteristics but promote the same principal that
the roads are used by everyone, not just motorised vehicles
None have traffic calming other than speed limit repeater signs and all form vital links in our Active Travel Network.

Clackmannanshire Active Travel Network

Our network is formed by the National Cycle Network, cycle friendly roads, the Hillfoots active travel corridor, local cycle routes and shared use paths and:

• Links our settlements
• Links people to community facilities and to bus and rail services
• Links Clackmannanshire to its neighbouring authorities

The Future

The focus for our Roads section has moved away from traffic management to accessibility with improvements including:

• Expansion of our Cycle Friendly Road network
• Expansion of our off-road cycle route
• 20mph Residential Streets programme - due for completion in Autumn 2014
• Reduced speed limits on primary routes - including area wide speed limit treatments
• Expansion of the Shared use footway network
• Development of a Clackmannanshire Active Travel Action Plan
• Implementation of the Roads Equality Scheme

This approach is formalised through the Local Transport Strategy and has been adopted by Council.