Keeping the Focus on the Vision: Active travel bid could to transform the city and help tackle connectivity and help the region become an 'exemplar' of how to tackle the climate emergency
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GETTING more people into active travel and onto public transport is the future of Inverness city centre, according to Highland Council’s ambitious strategy for the city.
Taking an all-encompassing look at how to remodel and develop the city centre the Inverness Strategy aims to boost business by increasing footfall through a range of measures though none are likely to be more contentious than the proposed new active travel routes.
The plans as laid out in the strategy call for a significant repurposing of current traffic routes in favour of walking, cycling and public transport – a move which sharply divided locals during the Covid pandemic.
Despite that furore the authors of the strategy do not shy away from making a bold assertion: “Active travel will transform Inverness city centre and help Highland Council in their objective to become an exemplar of how a region can address the climate emergency. ”
The proposals state: “Consideration should be given to introducing healthier, low carbon ways of moving around, such as improved space for walking, wheeling and cycling, and improved public transport.
“Such changes could make a dramatic change to how safe and welcoming the city centre feels. Moreover, it would go a significant way to improving accessibility to and use of the city centre by low car ownership groups.”
This is not only seen as a means to ramp up business for traders but also to tackle the climate emergency.
“Increasing cycling as a way of moving around is widely recognised as one of the easiest ways to reduce the carbon footprint of transport, and is safer, healthier and more compatible with a welcoming city centre environment than motor vehicles,” the strategy continues
“It has also become an increasingly popular leisure activity enjoyed by people of all ages and types.
“As a sustainable transport form that also has enormous public health benefits we should ensure that it is actively encouraged by providing the right infrastructure and facilities in the city centre.”
The strategy’s authors recognise there will remain a need to take account of the importance of private cars “particularly for disabled people and people that do not have access to alternative transport options” and for now the “large amount of parking within the city centre” remains relevant.
Ultimately, however, the aim is to make a significant move away from a city centre focussed on provision for private motor vehicles.
“The combination of urban realm improvements, active travel routes, National Cycle routes and an improved public transport infrastructure can create a more pedestrian and cycle friendly city centre, less dependent on car usage and ownership,” the strategy says.
n Next week we look at each of the active travel plans that have been proposed in more detail, including for key city centre arteries including Academy Street and Castle Street.
