Inverness residents walk the equivalent of length of Great Britain 64 times per day – reveals survey
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A NEW survey by Sustrans has revealed that the people of Inverness walk or wheel the equivalent of the length of Great Britain 64 times per day – with residents cycling the same distance 28 times per day.
This has resulted in up to 16,000 cars being taken off the road in Inverness every day saving 2800 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.
However, the findings in the report show that there is the potential for a far greater benefit given that 13.7 million journeys of up to three miles are driven in Inverness each year.
Almost half of people in Inverness want more government spending on walking and wheeling and believe that banning pavement parking would help 71 percent of residents, with the same percentage of people thinking that wider pavements would be useful to enable more walking or wheeling.
Another factor causing people to drive is the lack of resources in walking/cycling distance.
Stewart Carruth, interim director, Sustrans Scotland, said: “I’d like to thank the people of Inverness who gave us their time to take part in the Walking and Cycling Index. Walking and wheeling should be the most accessible and desirable form of transport. It is of huge importance to people, especially during the current cost of living crisis and the climate emergency.
“The evidence is clear – Inverness residents want the option to walk and wheel to where they need to get to, and don’t want outdated and unmaintained pavements, crossing points that make walking and wheeling unsafe or inaccessible, and vehicles parked on pavements getting in their way.
"The Highland Council can be rest assured that they have the backing of the public to build on the work they have already started to make it easier for people to walk, wheel and cycle to get around.”
Malcolm MacLeod, executive chief officer for Infrastructure, Environment and Economy at The Highland Council, added: “The findings from this 2021 survey will help to inform The Highland Council’s future planning and decision-making to ensure that we are in the strongest possible position to create a bigger, better, safer and more cohesive walking, wheeling and cycling network in Inverness.
"Detailed designs are already underway for several transformational projects that will encourage more people to choose active travel as their everyday mode of choice for these short journeys.
"There is a lot of work to do, but we are confident that we will work together with our partners and secure the status of Inverness as Scotland’s cycling city.”
To read the Walking and Cycling Index, click here.
