Mass cycle to call for more bike-friendly routes in city
Walking and cycling enthusiasts are organising a mass cycle to Highland Council headquarters in Inverness to demand more action to improve active travel facilities in the city.
And they are calling on anybody who wants to live in a city where people of all ages and abilities are able to walk and cycle easily and safely to join them.
The Pedal on Parliament Inverness (POP Inverness) ride will ask council candidates to pledge to commit to its aims to improve facilities for walking and cycling in their council wards ahead of local elections on May 4.
Organised by local cyclist Mark Falconer, POP Inverness is a group of clubs, organisations and individuals committed to making Inverness a safer and happier place to walk, cycle and live.
The mass ride will take place next month, with two route options – one for experienced cyclists and one for novices and families – going from Bellfield Park to the council’s Glenurquhart Road headquarters.
Pedal on Parliament rides have taken place in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen over the last few years and Mr Falconer explained what drove him to set up a similar event in the Highland capital.
"I’ve attended a previous Pedal on Parliament so was always committed to its aims and was impressed by the wide range of people taking part," he said.
"Inverness is a great city and deserves a great active travel infrastructure and I hope by staging an event we can persuade all the prospective councillors and the Scottish Government to make the small investment required to reap the great rewards it would bring."
The group has joined forces with We Walk, We Cycle, We Vote to ask candidates to pledge their support for more financial investment in Highland for cycling and walking with at least 10 per cent of the transport budget dedicated to active travel.
This could include improved infrastructure to enable everyone to cycle and walk safely and conveniently, and to tackle local barriers to increased walking and cycling.
Despite some high-profile cycle route developments, including the Millburn Road shared-use path and the Golden Bridge, campaigners are concerned about poor cycling and walking provision, such as indirect and inconvenient routes, barriers like bollards and chicanes, shared space for pedestrians and cyclists which causes conflict, and poor on-road cycling facilities.
Pedal on Parliament Inverness will set off from Bellfield Park on Saturday, April 22, at 11.30am. Everybody is urged to join the ride by meeting in the park by 11.15am.
